Orthogonal Trajectaries 141
Chapter
Orthogonal Trajectories
5
ORTHOGONAL TRAJECTORY OFA GIVEN CURVE (CARTESIAN FORM)
A curve of family or curves ( x, y, c) 0 which cuts every member of a given family of curves f ( x, y , c ) 0
according to a fixed rule is called a trajectory of the family of curves.
Orthogonal
trajectory
Figure-1
If we consider only the trajectories cutting each member of family of curves f ( x, y , c ) 0 at a constant angle,
then the curve which cuts every member of a given family of curves at right angle, is called an orthogonal
trajectory of the family.
In order to find out the orthogonal trajectories the following steps are taken.
Step-1: Let f ( x, y , c ) 0 be the equation where c is an arbitrary parameter..
Step-2: Differentiate the given equation w.r.t. x and eliminate c.
dx dy
Step-3: Substitute for in the equation obtained in step 2.
dy dx
Step-4: Solve the differential equation obtained from step 3.
Y
x2 + y 2 = r 2
y = mx
Orthogonal
trajectory
Figure-2
Example -1
Find the orthogonal trajectory of family of straight lines passing through the origin.
Soln. Family of straight lines passing through the origin is y = mx. ...(i)
where ‘m’ is an arbitrary constant.
dy
Differentiating w.r.t. x, we get m ...(ii)
dx
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142 Orthogonal Trajectaries
dy
Eliminating ‘m’ from (i) and (ii), we get y x
dx
dy dx dx
Replacing by , we get y x x dx y dy 0
dx dy dy
x2 y2
Integrating both sides, we get c
2 2
x 2 y 2 2c
Which is the required orthogonal trajectory.
Example -2
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the curve y = ax2.
Soln. Let y = ax2 ...(i)
dy
Differentiating equation (i), we get 2ax ...(ii)
dx
dy 2 y
Eliminating a from equations (i) and (ii), we get x ...(iii)
dx x 2
dx dy dx 2 y
Putting in equation (iii) in the place of , we get
dy dx dy x
x2 2 y2
xdx 2 y dy
2 2
2 y 2 x2 0
This is the family of required orthogonal trajectories.
Example -3
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the hyperbola xy = c.
Soln. The equation of the given family of curves is xy = c ...(i)
dy
Differentiating (i) w.r.t. x, we get x y0 ...(ii)
dx
dx dy dx
Substituting for in (ii), we get x y0 ...(iii)
dy dx dy
This is the differential equation of the orthogonal trajectories of given family of hyperbolas. (iii) can be rewritten
as xdx = ydy, which on integration given x 2 y 2 c .
This is the required family of orthogonal trajectories.
Example -4
x2 y2
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the curves 1, being the parameter of the family..
a 2 b2
x2 y2
Soln. Let 1 ...(i)
a 2 b2
x y dy
Differentiating (i) w.r.t. x, we have 2
2 0 ...(ii)
a b dx
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 143
From (i) and (ii) we have to eliminate .
2 2 dy
b x a y dx
Now (ii) gives,
dy
xy
dx
dy
( a 2 b2 ) x 2 ( a 2 b2 ) y
2
a ; b dx
dy dy
x y x y
dx dx
dx dy
Substituting these values in (i), we get x y x y a 2 b 2 ...(iii)
dy dx
is the differential equation of the given family of curves.
dy dx dy dx
Replacing to in (iii), we obtain x y x y a 2 b2 ...(iv)
dx dy dx dy
which is the same as (iii). Thus we see that the family (i) is self orthogonal. i.e., every member of the family
(i) cuts every other member of the same family orthogonally.
Example -5
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the circles x 2 y 2 ay 0 where ‘a’ is a parameter..
dy dy
Soln. Here, x 2 y 2 ay 0 . Differentiating w.r.t. x, we get 2 x 2 y a 0
dx dx
dy x 2 y 2 dy x2 y2
x y ay 0 a
2 2
2x 2 y 0
dx y dx y
y 2 x 2 dy
2x 0 . This is the differential equation of the given circles.
y dx
y 2 x 2 dx
The equation of orthogonal trajectories is 2 x 0
y dy
dx dy
putting dy in place of dx
2 xydy ( x 2 y 2 ) dx 0
It is a homogeneous equation.
dy d 2 x. x. x d x 2 2 x 2 0
Put y x , then x
dx dx dx
d 2 d dx 2
or 2 x 2
1 0 1 2 x 0 d 0;
dx dx x 1 2
Integrating, we get n x n (1 2 ) n c
y2
x(1 2 ) c x 1 2 c, i.e., x 2 y 2 cx
x
Which is the required family of orthogonal trajectories.
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144 Orthogonal Trajectaries
Previous Year Solved Problems
Example -6
The trajectories of the system of differential equations dx / dt y and dy / dt x are [D.U. 2014]
(a) ellipses (b) hyperbolas (c) circles (d) spirals
dx dy
Soln. y and x
dt dt
dy
dy dt x dy x y 2 x2 c2
ydy xdx 0
dx dx y dx y 2 2 2
dt
x 2 y 2 c 2 which is equation of circle
Option (c) is Correct
Example -7
Let be the curve which passes through (0, 1) and intersects each curve of the family y c x 2 othogonally..
Then also passes through the point
(a) 2, 0
(b) 0, 2 (c) (1, 1) (d) (–1, 1) [GATE-2016]
y dy
Soln. y cx 2 c 2
c.2 x
x dx
We need to remove arbitary constnat c
dy y 2y dy 2 y
2 2x
dx x x dx x
For othogonal trajectories, we replace
dy dx dx 2y
by 2 ydy xdx 0
dx dy dy x
2 y 2 x2 c2
2 y 2 x 2 c 2 which is required equation of y.
2 2 2
Since, passes through (0, 1)
2×12 + 02 = c2 c2 = 2
So, 2 y 2 x 2 2
Now, x 2, y 0 satisfies above equation of y..
Option (a) is Correct
x 0, y 2 doesnot satisfy the equation of y..
x 1, y 1 doesnot satisfy the equation of y..
x 1, y 1 doesnot satisfy the equation of y..
Option (b), (c), (d) are not Correct.
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 145
Example -8
The orthogonal trajectories of the one parameter family of curves y 2 4k ( k x) where k is an arbitrary
constant is [ISM-2015]
(a) x 2 2c(c y) (b) y 4c (c x ) (c) x 2 4c(c y) (d) y 2 4c(c x)
Soln. y 2 4k k x ...(i)
dy y dy
2 y 4k k
dx 2 dx
To remove arbitary Constant k
Put k in equation (i)
2 y dy y dy dy y dy
y 4 x y 2 2 y x
2 dx 2 dx dx 2 dx
2
dy y dy dy dy
y2 x y y 2 xc (iii)
dx 2 dx dx dx
To get orthogonal trajectary, replace
dy dx
by
dx dy
2 2
dx dx dx dx
y y 2 x y y 2x
dy dy dy dy
2 2
dx dx dy dx dy dy
y 2x y y 2 x y y 2 x y ...(iv)
dy dy dx dy dx dx
equation (iv) is same as equation (iii)
Given equation is self orthogonal samily of carves.
The orthogonal tracjector will be
y 2 4c c x which c is orthogonal constant
Option (d) is Correct
Example -9
6. The orthogonal trajectory of the hyperbola x 2 y 2 c is [SAU-2015]
(a) xy c (b) xy 2 c (c) x 2 y c (d) None of the above
Soln. x2 y 2 c2
dy
2x 2 y 0
dx
dy dy
To get orthogonal trajectory, we replace by
dx dx
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146 Orthogonal Trajectaries
dx dx dx
2 x 2 y 0 2 x 2 y dy 0 2 y dy 2 x
dy
dx dy dx dy
0 log x log y log c log xy log c xy c
x y
x y
Option (a) is Correct
Example -10
Let c be an arbitrary non-zero constant. Then the orthogonal family of curves to the family y (1 cx) 1 cx
is [H.C.U.-2015]
(a) 3 y y 3 3 x 2 constant (b) 3 y y 3 3 x 2 constant
(c) 3 y y 3 3x 2 constant (d) 3 y y3 3 x 2 constant
Soln. y 1 cx 1 cx y ycx 1 cx y 1 ycx cx
y 1 y 1
y 1 c xy x c c
xy x y 1 x
Differentiating both side w.r.t x
dy dy
d y 1 x y 1 y 1 x y 1
0 dx dx 0
dx y 1 x 2 2
x y 1
dy dy dy dy
x y 1 y 1 x y 1 0 x y 1 x y 1 y 2 1 0
dx dx dx dx
dy dy
x y 1 y 1 y 2 1 0 2 x y 2 1 0
dx dx
Toget orthogonal trajectories, we replace
dy dx
by
dx dy
dx 2 2 xdx
2x y 1 0 y 2 1
dy dy
2 xdx y 2 1 dy 2 xdx y 2 1 dy
x2 y3 y3
2 y c1 x 2 y c1
2 3 3
3x 2 y 3 3 y 3c1 3 y y 3 3 x 2 constant
Option (c) is Correct
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 147
Example -11
The orthogonal trajectory to the family of circle x 2 y 2 2cx (c is orbitary) is desoribed by the differential
equation. [CUCET-2017]
(a) x 2
y 2 y 2 xy (b) x 2 y 2 y 2 xy
(c) y 2
x 2 y xy (d) y 2
x 2 y 2 xy
Soln. x 2 y 2 2cx
y2
dividing both side by x x 2c
x
Differentiating both side w.r.t x
dy dy
2 xy y2 x 2 2 xy y 2 dy
1 dx 0 dx x 2
2 xy y2 0
2 0 dx
x x 2
dy dx
To get, orthogonal trajectaries, we replace by
dx dy
dx 2 dx dx
2
x 2 xy
2 2
y 0 x y 2 xy 0 x2 y2 2xy x2 y2 y 2 xy
dy dy dy
Option (b) is Correct
Example -12
The orthogonal trajectories of the family of rectangular hyperbolas y c1 / x is [HCU-2018]
(a) y 2 x 2 c (b) y 2 x 2 c
x2
2
(c) x y c 2
(d) 2 c
y
Soln. y c1 / x xy c1
dy dy y
differenting w.r.t x y x 0
dx dx x
dy dx
To get orthogonal trajectories replace by
dx dy
dx y
xdx ydy x 2 c y 2 y 2 x 2 c
dy x
Option (a) is Correct
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148 Orthogonal Trajectaries
Example -13
The orthogonal trajectories of the curves xy = c is (a being a constant) [BHU-2018]
(a) x 2 y 2 a 2 (b) x 2 y 2 a 2
(c) x 2 2 y 2 a 2 (d) 2x 2 y 2 a 2
Soln. y c1 / x xy c1
dy dy y
differenting w.r.t x y x 0
dx dx x
dy dx
To get orthogonal trajectories replace by
dx dy
dx y
xdx ydy x 2 c y 2 y 2 x 2 c
dy x
Option (a) is Correct
Example -14
The orthogonal trajectories of the family of curves x 2 y 2 a 2 is [CUCET-2018]
x
(a) x 2 y 2 c 2 (b) c (c) xy c (d) none of these
y
Soln. x2 y 2 a2
dy
2x 2 y 0
dx
For orthogonal trajectry
dx dx dx x
2x 2 y 0 2 x 2 y dy 0 dy y
dy
dx dy
0 log x log y log c log xy log c xy c
x y
Option (c) is Correct
Example -15
If the orthogonal trajectories of the family of ellipses x 2 2 y 2 c1 , c1 0 , are given by y c2 x , c2 ,
then ____________ [GATE-2017]
dy dy x
Soln. x 2 2 y 2 c1 2 x 4 y 0
dx dx 2y
For orthogonal trajectary we solve
dx x dx dy dx dy
2 2 2log x log y log c2 y c2 x 2
dy 2y x y x y
So, 2 .
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 149
Concept Application Exercise
1. Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of co-axial circles x 2 y 2 2 gx c 0 where g is the parameter..
2. Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of semicubical parabolas ay 2 x 3 ; where a is the variable
parameter.
3. Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of parabolas y ax 2 .
x2 y2
4. Find the orthogonal trajectories of 1 ; where is an arbitrary parameter..
a 2 a2
5. Find the orthogonal trajectory of y 2 4ax (a being the parameter).
6. Find the orthogonal trajectories for the given family of curves when ‘a’ is the parameter.
(i) cos y a e x
(ii) x k y k a k
7. Find the trajectories orthogonal to ellipse having a common major axis equal to 2a.
ORTHOGONAL TRAJECTORIES IN POLAR FORM F(r, θ, c) = 0
G Norma
l V T
P (r, )
Su
U
bN
r
or
ma
l
K
O X
p
90°
t
Tangen
Su
M
bT
an
ge
nt
(i) Form its differential equation in the form f ( r, , dr /d ) 0 by eliminating c.
dr d
(ii) Replace in this differential equation, by r 2 .
d dr
[ for the given curve through P( r, ) tan rd /dr and for the orthogonal trajectory through P
1 dr
tan tan (90 ) cot
r d
Thus for getting the differential equation of the orthogonal trajectory
d 1 dr dr d
r is to be replaced by or is to be replaced by r 2 ].
dr r d d dr
(iii) Solve the differential equation of the orthogonal trajectories
i.e. f ( r , , r 2 d /dr ) 0.
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150 Orthogonal Trajectaries
Example -16
Find the orthogonal trajectory of the cardioids r a (1 cos ) .
Soln. Differentiating r a (1 cos ) ...(i)
dr
with respect to , we get a sin ...(ii)
d
Eliminating a from (i) and (ii), we obtain
dr 1 sin
cot which is the differential equation of the given family..
d r 1 cos 2
dr d
Replacing by r 2 , we obtain
d dr
1 2 d dr
r cot or tan d 0
r dr 2 r 2
as the differential equation of orthogonal trajectories. It can be rewritten as
dr (sin /2) d
r cos /2
Integrating, log r 2 log cos /2 log c
1
r c cos 2 /2 c (1 cos ) or r a (1 cos )
2
which is the required orthogonal trajectory.
FINDING EQUATION OF A CURVE WHOSE GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES ARE GIVEN
The following properties of a curve are sometimes very useful in determining the equation of a curve. Using
these properties, first the differential equation of the curve is formed and then this differential equation is solved
to get the equation of the curve.
Let the tangent and normal at a point P(x, y) on the curve y = f (x), meet the X-axis at T and N respectively.
If G is the foot the ordinate at P, then TG and GN are called the Cartesian subtangent and subnormal, while the
lengths PT and PN are called the lengths of the tangent and normal respectively.
If PT make an angle with X-axis, then tan = dy/dx. From the figure we can find that :
y
• Subtangent = TG = y cot =
dy
dx
dy
• Subnormal = GN = y tan = y
dx
2
dy
y 1
dx
• Length of the tangent = PT = y cosec = y 1 cot 2
dy
dx
2
2 dy
• Length of the normal = PN = y sec = y 1 tan y 1
dx
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 151
Y
dy
• Equation of tangent at P( x, y ) Y y ( X x )
dx
dx P
• Equation of normal at P ( x, y ) Y y ( X x)
dy
y
• Length of radius vector OP x 2 y 2
X
T O G N
The following examples will illustrate the concept of forming and solving the differential equations of the curves
whose geometrical properties are given.
Example -17
The slope of curve passing through (4, 3) at any point is the reciprocal of twice the ordinate at that point. Show
that the curve is a parabola.
Soln. The slope of the curve is the reciprocal of twice the ordinate at each point of the curve. Using this property, we
can define the differential equation of the curve i.e.
dy 1
slope
dx 2 y
Integrate both sides to get :
2 y dy dx y2 x C
As the required curve passes through (4, 3), it lies on it.
94C C 5
So the required curve is : y 2 x 5 which is parabola.
Example -18
Find the equation of the curve passing through (2, 1) which has constant subtangent.
Soln. The length of subtangent is constant. Using this property, we can define the differential equation of the curve i.e.
y
subtangent k where k is a constant
y
dy
k y
dx
Integrate both sides to get :
kdy
y
dx k log y x C
where C is an arbitrary constant.
As the required curve through (2, 1), it is lies on it.
02k C 2 the equation of the curve is : k log y = x – 2.
Note that above equation can also be put in the form y = AeBx.
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152 Orthogonal Trajectaries
Example -19
Find the curve through (2, 0) so that the segment of tangent between point of tangency and y-axis has a
constant length equation to 2.
Soln. The segment of the tangent between the point of tangency and y-axis has a constant length = PT = 2.
Y
P(x, y)
T
x
X
O
Using this property, we can define the differential equation of the curve i.e.
2 4 x2 2
2
PT x sec x 1 tan x 1 y 2 y 2 log 4 x C1
x
As (2, 0) lies on the curve, it should satisfy its equation i.e. C1 = 0
2 2
dy dy 4
x 1 2 1 2
dx dx x
dy 4 x2
dx x2
Integrate both sides to get :
4 x2
y dx C1
x2
Put x 2 sin dx 2 cos d
cos2
y 2 d C1
sin
2 (cosec sin ) d C1
(2 log cosec cot 2 cos ) C1
The equation of the curve is :
2 4 x2
y 2 log 4 x2
x
Example -20
Find the equation of the curve passing through the origin if the mid-point of the segment of the normal drawn at
any point of the curve and the X-axis lies on the parabola 2y2 = x.
Soln. OB OM MB x y tan x yy
B ( x yy , 0)
yy y
N (mid point of PB ) x ,
2 2
N lies on 2y2 = x
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Orthogonal Trajectaries 153
2
y yy
2 x yy y 2 2 x
2 2
(Divide both sides by y and check that it is a Bernouli’s differential equation)
Y
P(x, y)
N
x X
O M B
dt
Put y 2 t 2 yy
dx
1 dt dt
t 2x 2t 4 x
2 dx dx
which is a linear differential equation.
I.F. = Integrating factor e
2 dx
e 2 x
Using the standard result, the solution of the differential equation is :
te2 x 4 xe 2 x dx
xe 2 x e 2 x
te 2 x 4 dx
2 2
xe 2 x e 2 x
te 2 x 4 C
2 4
t 2 x 1 Ce 2 x
As it passes through origin ; C = –1
y 2 2 x 1 e2 x is the required curve.
Example -21
Find equation of curves which intersect the hyperbola xy = c at an angle /2.
dy
Soln. Let m1 for the required family of curves at (x, y).
dx
dy
Let m2 = value of for xy c curve.
dx
dy y
m2
dx x
As the required family is perpendicular to the given curve, we can have :
m1 m2 1
dy y dy x
1 for required family of curves :
dx x dx y
ydy xdx y 2 x 2 C1
is the required family which intersects xy = c curve at an angle /2.
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154 Orthogonal Trajectaries
Concept Application Exercise
1. Find the equation of the curve passing through the origin if the middle point of the segment of its normal from
any point of the curve to the x-axis lies on the parabola 2y2 = x.
2. Find the equation of the curve which is such that the area of the rectangle constructed on the abscissa of any
point and the intercept of the tangent at this point on the y-axis is equal to 4.
3. A normal is drawn at a point P(x, y) of a curve. It meets the x-axis and the y-axis in point A and B, respectively,
1 1
such that 1 , where O is the origin. Find the equation of such a curve passing through (5, 4).
OA OB
4. Find the curve such that the intercept on the x-axis cut-off between the origin, and the tangent at a point is twice
the abscissa and passes through the point (1, 2).
5. Find the equation of the curve such that the square of the intercept cut-off by any tangent from the y-axis is
equal to the product of the coordinates of the point of tangency.
6. Find the equation of a curve passing through the point (0, 2) given that the sum of the coordinates of any point
on the curve exceeds the magnitude of the slope of the tangent to the curve at that point by 5.
7. Find the equation of the curve in which the subnormal varies as the square of the ordinate.
8. Find the curve for which the length of normal is equal to the radius vector.
9. Find the curve for which the perpendicular from the foot of the ordinate to the tangent is of constant length.
10. A curve y = f(x) passes through the origin. Through any point (x, y) on the curve, lines are drawn parallel to the
co-ordinate axes. If the curve divides the area formed by these lines and co-ordinates axes in the ratio m : n,
find the curve.
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