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Eccentric-Angle Sum for Equilateral Triangle | JEE

JEE Maths question with a full step-by-step solution.

Question
If the circumcentre of an equilateral triangle inscribed in x2a2+y2b2=1\dfrac{x^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{b^2}=1, with vertices having eccentric angles α,β,γ\alpha,\beta,\gamma, is (x1,y1)(x_1,y_1), then cosαcosβ+sinαsinβ\sum\cos\alpha\cos\beta+\sum\sin\alpha\sin\beta is:
A9x12a2+9y12b2+32\dfrac{9x_1^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{9y_1^2}{b^2}+\dfrac{3}{2}
B9x129y12+a2b29x_1^2-9y_1^2+a^2b^2
C9x122a2+9y122b232\dfrac{9x_1^2}{2a^2}+\dfrac{9y_1^2}{2b^2}-\dfrac{3}{2}correct
D9x12a2+9y12b2+3\dfrac{9x_1^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{9y_1^2}{b^2}+3
Solution
Step 1: For an equilateral triangle the circumcentre coincides with the centroid, so
x1=a3cosα,y1=b3sinα    cosα=3x1a, sinα=3y1b.x_1=\frac{a}{3}\sum\cos\alpha,\quad y_1=\frac{b}{3}\sum\sin\alpha \;\Rightarrow\; \sum\cos\alpha=\frac{3x_1}{a},\ \sum\sin\alpha=\frac{3y_1}{b}.
Step 2: Use the identities
cosαcosβ=(cosα)2cos2α2,sinαsinβ=(sinα)2sin2α2.\sum\cos\alpha\cos\beta=\frac{(\sum\cos\alpha)^2-\sum\cos^2\alpha}{2},\qquad \sum\sin\alpha\sin\beta=\frac{(\sum\sin\alpha)^2-\sum\sin^2\alpha}{2}.
Step 3: Add and use (cos2α+sin2α)=3\sum(\cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha)=3:
cosαcosβ+sinαsinβ=(cosα)2+(sinα)232.\sum\cos\alpha\cos\beta+\sum\sin\alpha\sin\beta=\frac{(\sum\cos\alpha)^2+(\sum\sin\alpha)^2-3}{2}.
Step 4: Substitute the sums.
=12(9x12a2+9y12b23)=9x122a2+9y122b232.=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{9x_1^2}{a^2}+\frac{9y_1^2}{b^2}-3\right)=\frac{9x_1^2}{2a^2}+\frac{9y_1^2}{2b^2}-\frac{3}{2}.
Correct answer: (3)
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