If the equation of rectangular hyperbola is $2x^2+3xy-2y^2-6x+13y-36=0$ and the equation of its asymptote is $x+2y-5=0$, find the other asymptote

conic sections

The second asymptote will be of the form
$$2x-y+\lambda=0$$

because it is a rectangular hyperbola. I know it will pass through the centre of the hyperbola. But how do I find it?

One guess was that we could use partial derivatives, but that method is used for pair of straight lines, while this is a hyperbola. I could really use some insight.

Best Answer

Comparing the given quadratic with $$Ax^2+2Hxy+By^2+2Gx+2Fy+C=0~~~(1)$$ We get $$A=2, H=3/2, B=-2, G=-3, F=13/2, C=-36~~~~(2)$$ The combined eq. of the asymptotes of the given hyperbola would be $$2x^2+3xy-2y^2-6x+13y+D=0~~~(3)$$, provided (3) represents a pair of straight line. The condition for this is $$ABD+2FGH-AF^2-BG^2-DH^2=0~~~~(3)$$ $$\implies -4D-117/2-169/2+18-9D/4=0 \implies D=-20.~~~~(4)$$ So the combined Eq. of asymptotes is $$2x^2+3xy-2y^2-6x+13y-20=0 \implies~(x+2y-5)(2x-y+4)=0~~(5)$$ Finally, we get $\lambda=4.$

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