Analytical Geometry - Conics - Rectangular Hyperbola

Find the equation of the rectangular hyperbola which has its center at $\left(2,1\right)$, one of its asymptotes $3x - y - 5 = 0$ and which passes through the point $\left(1, -1\right)$.


Let the equation of the required rectangular hyperbola be

$\left(x - h\right) \left(y - k\right) = c^2$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (1)$

One of the asymptotes of the required rectangular hyperbola is

$3x - y - 5 = 0$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (2)$

Slope of the given asymptote is $= m_1 = 3$

The asymptotes of a rectangular hyperbola are perpendicular to each other.

$\therefore$ $\;$ Slope of the second asymptote $= m_2 = \dfrac{-1}{m_1} = \dfrac{-1}{3}$

Let the equation of the second asymptote be

$y = \dfrac{-1}{3}x + p$ $\;$ where $p$ is a constant.

i.e. $\;$ $x + 3y = 3p$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (3)$

Solving equations $(2)$ and $(3)$ simultaneously we have

$x = \dfrac{15 + 3p}{10}$

The asymptotes intersect at the center.

Given: Center $= \left(h, k\right) = \left(2, 1\right)$

$\implies$ $\dfrac{15 + 3p}{10} = 2$ $\implies$ $p = \dfrac{5}{3}$

Substituting the value of $p$ in equation $(3)$, the equation of the second asymptote is

$x + 3y - 5 = 0$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (4)$

$\therefore$ $\;$ The combined equation of the asymptotes is

$\left(3x - y - 5\right) \left(x + 3y - 5\right) = 0$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (5)$

The equation of rectangular hyperbola differs from the combined equation of asymptotes by a constant.

$\therefore$ $\;$ The equation of the rectangular hyperbola is

$\left(3x - y - 5\right) \left(x + 3y - 5\right) + \ell = 0$ $\;\;\; \cdots \; (6)$

Equation $(6)$ passes through the point $\left(1, -1\right)$.

$\therefore$ $\;$ We have

$\left(3 + 1 - 5\right) \left(1 - 3 - 5\right) + \ell = 0$ $\implies$ $\ell = -7$

$\therefore$ $\;$ The required equation of rectangular hyperbola is

$\left(3x - y - 5\right) \left(x + 3y - 5\right) - 7 = 0$