Question

Find length of latus rectum of the parabola y² = 4ax passing through the point (2, –6)

Answer 1

Given the equation of the parabola is y² = 4ax and it passes through the point (2, –6).

Substituting x = 2 and y = –6 in y² = 4ax, we get

(–6)² = 4a(2)

∴ 4a = `36/2` = 18

∴ Length of latus rectum = 4a = 18 units.