PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

REVISION (2020) PREPARED BY T.PONDO

1. The parametric equations of a curve are 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝐴, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴, where 𝑎 is a positive constant
𝜋
and 0 < 𝐴 < 2
𝑑𝑦
(i) Show that 𝑑𝑥 = − tan 𝐴 [2]
(ii) The tangent to the curve at the point with parameter A cuts the axes at S and T. Write
down the equation of this tangent and show that the distance ST is independent of A.[6]
2. The parametric equations of a curve are 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑡 2 , where 𝑎 is a constant. The points
𝑃(𝑎𝑝, 𝑎𝑝2 ) and 𝑄(𝑎𝑞, 𝑎𝑞 2 ) lie on the curve. Find and simplify an expression, in terms of 𝑝 and
𝑞, for the gradient of the chord PQ.
Deduce from your expression that the gradient of the tangent to the curve at 𝑃 is 2𝑝 [4]
1 𝑡 𝑑𝑦
3. Given that 𝑥 = 1+𝑡 2 and 𝑦 = 1+𝑡 2 , where 𝑡 is a parameter, find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡. [6]
4. The parametric equations
𝑥 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝐴, 𝑦 = 2(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴) define a line segment in the x-y plane. Find the cartesian equation
of the line and the coordinates of the end-points of the segment. [5]
1
5. A curve has parametric equations 𝑥 = 2𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡 2 where 𝑡 is a real non-zero parameter. Find the
1
equation of the tangent and the normal to the curve at the point (2𝑡, 𝑡 2 ) [6]
6. The parametric equations of a curve C are
𝑥 = 𝑡 + 𝑒𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑡
𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡, and hence find the coordinates of the stationary point of C [5]

7. The coordinates (𝑥, 𝑦) of a point on a curve are given in terms of a parameter 𝑡 by

𝑥 = 𝑡 2 + 1, 𝑦 = 𝑡3 − 𝑡
(i) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where 𝑡 = 1 [4]
(ii) Find the values of 𝑡 for which both 𝑥 and 𝑦 have the same rate of change with respect to 𝑡 [3]
8. A curve is defined by the parametric equations

𝑥 = 𝑡2, 𝑦 = 𝑡3

Show that the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point 𝑃(𝑝2 , 𝑝3 ) is 2𝑦 − 3𝑝𝑥 + 𝑝3 = 0 [2]
Show that there is jus one point on the curve at which the tangent passes through the point (−3, −5) and
determine the coordinates of this point [4]
9. A curve C is given parametrically by the equations

𝑥 = 2 + 𝑡, 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑡 2
Show that the normal at the point with parameter 𝑡 has equation

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𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦 = 2𝑡 3 − 𝑡 + 2 [4]
The normal at the point 𝑇 , where 𝑡 = 2, cuts C again at the same point P, where 𝑡 = 𝑝. Show that

4𝑝2 + 𝑝 − 18 = 0 and hence deduce the coordinates of P.

Find the cartesian equation and hence sketch C. [3]
10. A curve is represented parametrically by
𝑥 = 2 + sin 𝜃 𝑦 = 6 cos 𝜃
𝑑𝑦
(a) Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝜃 [3]
(b) By expressing sin 𝜃 in terms of 𝑥 and cos 𝜃 in terms of 𝑦, use an appropriate identity to show that
𝑦 2 + 36𝑥 2 − 144𝑥 + 108 = 0 [3]

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SOLUTIONS
1. The parametric equations of a curve are 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝐴, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴, where 𝑎 is a positive constant
𝜋
and 0 < 𝐴 < 2
𝑑𝑦
(i) Show that 𝑑𝑥 = − tan 𝐴 [2]
(ii) The tangent to the curve at the point with parameter A cuts the axes at S and T. Write
down the equation of this tangent and show that the distance ST is independent of A.[6]

SOLUTION
𝑑𝑥
(i.) 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝐴 ⟹ 𝑑𝐴 = 3𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝐴(− sin 𝐴)
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴 ⟹ 𝑑𝐴 = 3𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝐴

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝐴 3𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝐴
𝑑𝑥
= (𝑑𝐴) (𝑑𝑥 ) = 3𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝐴(− sin 𝐴) = − tan 𝐴 (shown)

(ii.) y

S(0, asinA)

P(𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝐴, 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴)

T(a cos A, 0) x

𝑦−𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴
Equation of tangent: = − tan 𝐴
𝑥−𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠3 𝐴

sin 𝐴
𝑦 = (− tan 𝐴)𝑥 + (𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝐴) (cos 𝐴) + 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴 = (− tan 𝐴)𝑥 + 𝑎 sin 𝐴(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴) + 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝐴

= (− tan 𝐴)𝑥 + 𝑎 sin 𝐴

For S, 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝐴
𝑎 sin 𝐴
For T, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = tan 𝐴
= 𝑎 cos 𝐴

Distance ST= √(𝑎 sin 𝐴)2 + (𝑎 cos 𝐴)2 = √𝑎2 (1) = 𝑎 which is independent of A (shown)

2. The parametric equations of a curve are 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑡 2 , where 𝑎 is a constant. The points
𝑃(𝑎𝑝, 𝑎𝑝2 ) and 𝑄(𝑎𝑞, 𝑎𝑞 2 ) lie on the curve. Find and simplify an expression, in terms of 𝑝 and
𝑞, for the gradient of the chord PQ.
Deduce from your expression that the gradient of the tangent to the curve at 𝑃 is 2𝑝 [4]

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 Solution

Given point 𝑃(𝑎𝑝, 𝑎𝑝2 ) and 𝑄(𝑎𝑞, 𝑎𝑞 2 ) lie on the curve

𝑎𝑞2 −𝑎𝑝2 𝑞2 −𝑝2 (𝑞+𝑝)(𝑞−𝑝)
Gradient of the chord 𝑃𝑄 = 𝑎𝑞−𝑎𝑝
= 𝑞−𝑝
= 𝑞−𝑝
=𝑞+𝑝

If 𝑄 = 𝑃, 𝑞 = 𝑝, ∴ gradient of the tangent to the curve at 𝑃 = 𝑝 + 𝑝 = 2𝑝 (deduced)

1 𝑡 𝑑𝑦
3. Given that 𝑥 = 1+𝑡 2 and 𝑦 = 1+𝑡 2 , where 𝑡 is a parameter, find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡. [6]

Solution
1 𝑡
Given 𝑥 = 1+𝑡 2 and 𝑦 = 1+𝑡 2
𝑑𝑥 2𝑡
𝑑𝑡
= − (1+𝑡 2 )2

𝑑𝑦 (1+𝑡 2 )−𝑡(2𝑡) 1−𝑡 2

𝑑𝑡
= (1+𝑡 2 )2
= (1+𝑡 2 )2

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑡 1−𝑡 2 𝑡 2 −1
∴ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥/𝑑𝑡 = −2𝑡
= 2𝑡
4. The parametric equations
𝑥 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝐴, 𝑦 = 2(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴) define a line segment in the x-y plane. Find the cartesian
equation of the line and the coordinates of the end-points of the segment. [5]

Solution
𝑦
Given 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝐴, = (1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴)
2
𝑦
∴ 𝑥 − 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝐴 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝐴 ⟹ 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 2

Hence the cartesian equation of the line segment in the x-y plane is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 2
1
5. A curve has parametric equations 𝑥 = 2𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡 2 where 𝑡 is a real non-zero parameter. Find the
1
equation of the tangent and the normal to the curve at the point (2𝑡, 2 ) [6]
𝑡

Solution

𝑥 = 2𝑡 1 4 𝑑𝑦 8
Given that { 𝑦 = 1 ⟹ 𝑦 = 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 ⟹ 𝑑𝑥 = − 𝑥 3
( )2
𝑡2 2

𝑑𝑦 8 1
At 𝑥 = 2𝑡, =− =−
𝑑𝑥 (2𝑡)3 𝑡3

1
1 𝑦− 2 1
𝑡
∴ Equation of tangent at (2𝑡, 𝑡 2 ) is given by 𝑥−2𝑡 = − 𝑡3
1 2 1 3 𝑥
⟹ 𝑦 − 𝑡2 = 𝑡2 − 𝑡3 𝑥 ⟹ 𝑦 = 𝑡2 − 𝑡3

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 1
1 𝑦− 2
Equation of normal at (2𝑡, 𝑡 2 ): 𝑡
𝑥−2𝑡
= 𝑡3
1 1
⟹ 𝑦 − 𝑡 2 = 𝑡 3 𝑥 − 2𝑡 4 ⟹ 𝑦 = 𝑡 3 𝑥 + (𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 4 )

6. The parametric equations of a curve C are

𝑥 = 𝑡 + 𝑒𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑡
𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡, and hence find the coordinates of the stationary point of C [5]

Solution
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 = 𝑡 + 𝑒𝑡 ⟹ 𝑑𝑡
= 1 + 𝑒𝑡
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑡 ⟹ 𝑑𝑡
= 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 1−𝑒 −𝑡
∴ = . =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 1+𝑒 𝑡
𝑑𝑦
For stationary points, 𝑑𝑥 = 0

⟹ 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡 = 0 ⟹ 𝑒 −𝑡 = 1 ⟹ −𝑡 = 0 ⟹ 𝑡 = 0
∴ 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 1
i.e. coordinates of the stationary point of C is (1,1)

7. The coordinates (𝑥, 𝑦) of a point on a curve are given in terms of a parameter 𝑡 by

𝑥 = 𝑡 2 + 1, 𝑦 = 𝑡3 − 𝑡
i. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where 𝑡 = 1 [4]
ii. Find the values of 𝑡 for which both 𝑥 and 𝑦 have the same rate of change with respect to 𝑡 [3]

Solution
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
(i.) 𝑑𝑡
= 2𝑡 and 𝑑𝑡
= 3𝑡 2 − 1

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 3𝑡 2 −1
∴ = . =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 2𝑡

When 𝑡 = 1, 𝑥 = 12 + 1 = 2, 𝑦 = 13 − 1 = 0
𝑑𝑦 3(1)2
𝑑𝑥
= 2(1)
=1

𝑦−0
Hence, the equation of the tangent at this point is =1⟹𝑦 =𝑥−2
𝑥−2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
(ii.) When 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑑𝑡
,

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 ∴ 3𝑡 2 − 1 = 2𝑡 ⟹ 3𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 − 1 = 0 ⟹ (3𝑡 + 1)(𝑡 − 1) = 0
1
∴ 𝑡 = − 3 𝑜𝑟 1

8. A curve is defined by the parametric equations

𝑥 = 𝑡2, 𝑦 = 𝑡3

Show that the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point 𝑃(𝑝2 , 𝑝3 ) is 2𝑦 − 3𝑝𝑥 + 𝑝3 = 0 [2]
Show that there is jus one point on the curve at which the tangent passes through the point (−3, −5)
and determine the coordinates of this point [4]

Solution
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 = 𝑡2 ⟹ 𝑑𝑡
= 2𝑡
𝑑𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑡3 ⟹ 𝑑𝑡
= 3𝑡 2

𝑑𝑦 3𝑡 2 3
⟹ = = 𝑡
𝑑𝑥 2𝑡 2
3
At the point 𝑃(𝑝2 , 𝑝3 ), the gradient of the tangent is 𝑝. Therefore, the equation of the tangent is given by
2

𝑦−𝑝3 3 3
𝑥−𝑝2
= 2 𝑝 ⟹ 𝑦 − 𝑝3 = 2 𝑝(𝑥 − 𝑝2 )

⟹ 2𝑦 − 2𝑝3 = 3𝑝𝑥 − 3𝑝3 ⟹ 2𝑦 − 3𝑝𝑥 + 𝑝3 = 0 (shown)

If a tangent line passes through the point (−3, −5), then

2(−5) − 3𝑝(−3) + 𝑝3 = 0 ⟹ −10 + 9𝑝 + 𝑝3 = 0

1 39
⟹ (𝑝 − 1)(𝑝2 + 𝑝 + 10) = 0 ⟹ (𝑝 − 1) ((𝑝 + )2 + ) =0
2 4
1 39
Since (𝑝 + 2)2 + 4
is never zero, the only solution to the equation is 𝑝 = 1. Therefore, there is only one
point whose tangent passes through (−3, −5). The coordinates of this point are (1, 1), (𝑖. 𝑒. (𝑝2 , 𝑝3 ) with
𝑝 = 1)

9. A curve C is given parametrically by the equations

𝑥 = 2 + 𝑡, 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑡 2
Show that the normal at the point with parameter 𝑡 has equation

𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦 = 2𝑡 3 − 𝑡 + 2 [4]
The normal at the point 𝑇 , where 𝑡 = 2, cuts C again at the same point P, where 𝑡 = 𝑝. Show that

4𝑝2 + 𝑝 − 18 = 0 and hence deduce the coordinates of P.

Find the cartesian equation and hence sketch C. [3]

Solution
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 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 =2+𝑡 ⟹ =1
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 1 − 𝑡2 ⟹ = −2𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡
⟹ 𝑑𝑥 = .
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
= −2𝑡
𝑑𝑥 1
The gradient of the normal at the point with parameter 𝑡 is given by − 𝑑𝑦 i.e. 2𝑡

Equation of the normal:

𝑦−(1−𝑡 2 ) 1
= ⟹ 2𝑡𝑦 − 2𝑡 + 2𝑡 3 = 𝑥 − 2 − 𝑡
𝑥−(2+𝑡) 2𝑡

⟹ 𝑥 − 2𝑡𝑦 = 2𝑡 3 − 𝑡 + 2
Equation of the normal at the point T, where 𝑡 = 2, is
𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 2(8) − 2 + 2 ⟹ 𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 16

The point P, on C, where 𝑡 = 𝑝, has coordinates (2 + 𝑝, 1 − 𝑝2 ).

Since P lies on the normal at T, we have
(2 + 𝑝) − 4(1 − 𝑝2 ) = 16 ⟹ 4𝑝2 + 𝑝 − 18 = 0

⟹ (4𝑝 + 9)(𝑝 − 2) = 0
9
∴ 𝑝 = −4
9 9 1 65
∴ 𝑃(2 − , 1 − (( )2 ) = 𝑃(− , − )
4 4 4 16

From 𝑥 = 2 + 𝑡, we get 𝑡 = 𝑥 − 2

Sub into 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑡 2 ⟹ 𝑦 = 1 − (𝑥 − 2)2

1 2 3 x

The graph has a maximum turning point at (2, 1).

-3

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 10. A curve is represented parametrically by
𝑥 = 2 + sin 𝜃 𝑦 = 6 cos 𝜃
𝑑𝑦
(a) Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝜃 [3]
(b) By expressing sin 𝜃 in terms of 𝑥 and cos 𝜃 in terms of 𝑦, use an appropriate identity to show
that 𝑦 2 + 36𝑥 2 − 144𝑥 + 108 = 0 [3]

Solution
𝑑𝑥
(a) 𝑥 = 2 + sin 𝜃 ⟹ = cos 𝜃
𝑑𝜃
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 6 cos 𝜃 ⟹ 𝑑𝜃 = − sin 𝜃
𝑑𝑦 6 sin 𝜃
=− = −6 tan 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 cos 𝜃
𝑦
(b) 𝑥 − 2 = sin 𝜃 = cos 𝜃
6

𝑦2
(𝑥 − 2)2 + 36 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃

𝑦2
(𝑥 − 2)2 + =1
36

𝑦2
∴ 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4 + =1
36

Multiplying throughout by 36 to get

𝑦 2 + 36𝑥 2 − 144𝑥 + 108 = 0 (as required)

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