Here you will learn what is the formula to find the length of latus rectum of hyperbola with examples.
Let’s begin –
Length of Latus Rectum of Hyperbola Formula
(i) For the hyperbola \(x^2\over a^2\) – \(y^2\over b^2\) = 1
Length of Latus Rectum = \(2b^2\over a\)
(ii) For the hyperbola -\(x^2\over a^2\) + \(y^2\over b^2\) = 1
Length of Latus Rectum = \(2a^2\over b\)
Also Read : Equation of the Hyperbola | Graph of a Hyperbola
Example : For the given ellipses, find the length of the latus rectum of hyperbola.
(i) \(16x^2 – 9y^2\) = 144
(ii) \(9x^2 – 16y^2 – 18x + 32y – 151\) = 0
Solution :
(i) We have,
\(16x^2 – 9y^2\) = 144 \(\implies\) \(x^2\over 9\) – \(y^2\over 16\) = 1,
This is of the form \(x^2\over a^2\) – \(y^2\over b^2\) = 1
where \(a^2\) = 9 and \(b^2\) = 16 i.e. a = 3 and b = 4
Length of Latus Rectum = \(2b^2\over a\) = \(32\over 3\)
(ii) We have,
\(9x^2 – 16y^2 – 18x + 32y – 151\) = 0
\(\implies\) \(9(x^2 – 2x)\) – \(16(y^2 – 2y)\) = 151
\(\implies\) \(9(x^2 – 2x + 1)\) – \(16(y^2 – 2y + 1)\) = 144
\(\implies\) \(9(x – 1)^2\) – \(16(y – 1)^2\) = 144
\(\implies\) \((x – 1)^2\over 16\) – \((y – 1)^2\over 9\) = 1
Here, a = 4 and b = 3
Length of Latus Rectum = \(2b^2\over a\) = \(9\over 2\)
