JEEAdvanced

A point P moves in the plane so that the sum of the squares of its…

Question

A point P moves in the plane so that the sum of the squares of its distances from the three fixed points A(1,2), B(5,2) and C(3,6) is constant and equal to 60. The locus of P is a circle. If the square of its radius equals m/n in lowest terms, find m+n.

✓ Verified answer: 133checked by our engine — not a guess

Step-by-step solution

Let P = (x,y). Then
PA^2 + PB^2 + PC^2 = (x-1)^2+(y-2)^2 + (x-5)^2+(y-2)^2 + (x-3)^2+(y-6)^2 = 60.
Expand: 3x^2 - (2+10+6)x + (1+25+9) + 3y^2 - (4+4+12)y + (4+4+36) = 60
=> 3x^2 - 18x + 35 + 3y^2 - 20y + 44 = 60
=> 3x^2 + 3y^2 - 18x - 20y + 79 = 60
=> 3x^2 + 3y^2 - 18x - 20y + 19 = 0.
Divide by 3: x^2 + y^2 - 6x - (20/3)y + 19/3 = 0.
Centre = (3, 10/3). Radius^2 = 3^2 + (10/3)^2 - 19/3 = 9 + 100/9 - 57/9 = 81/9 + 100/9 - 57/9 = 124/9.
m/n = 124/9, m+n = 133.

Final answer133

Stuck on a problem like this?

Paste any JEE or NEET question — verified working, a confidence %, and an honest “not sure” instead of a bluff.

Solve my doubt →

More Coordinate Geometry solutions