FP1 June 2012 Q5

EdexcelOld spec7 marksConic Sections

5.

Figure 1: parabola C through O opening to the right, focus S on the x-axis, point P above and point Q below the x-axis on C
Figure 1

Figure 1 shows a sketch of the parabola \(C\) with equation \(y^2 = 8x\).
The point \(P\) lies on \(C\), where \(y > 0\), and the point \(Q\) lies on \(C\), where \(y < 0\)
The line segment \(PQ\) is parallel to the \(y\)-axis.

Given that the distance \(PQ\) is 12,

(a) write down the \(y\)-coordinate of \(P\), (1)
(b) find the \(x\)-coordinate of \(P\). (2)

Figure 1 shows the point \(S\) which is the focus of \(C\).
The line \(l\) passes through the point \(P\) and the point \(S\).

(c) Find an equation for \(l\) in the form \(ax + by + c = 0\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers. (4)