Let the locus of the midpoints of the chords of the circle $x^2+(y-1)^2=1$ drawn from the origin intersect the line $x+y=1$ at $\mathrm{P}$ and $\mathrm{Q}$. Then, the length of $\mathrm{PQ}$ is :
Solution
Let mid-point is $(x, y)$
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& x^2+y^2-2 y=0 \\\\
& x x_1+y y_1-\left(y+y_1\right)=x_1^2+y_1^2-2 y_1
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>It is passing through origin
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& \text { So, } 0+0-\left(0+y_1\right)=x_1^2+y_1^2-2 y_1 \\\\
& \Rightarrow -y_1=x_1^2+y_1^2-2 y_1 \\\\
& \Rightarrow x_1^2+y_1^2-y_1=0
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>$x^2+y^2-y=0$ ............ (1)
<br/><br/>$\because$ It intersects the line $x+y=1$
<br/><br/>So put $x=1-y$ in equation (1)
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& (1-y)^2+y^2-y=0 \\\\
& 2 y^2-3 y+1=0
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>$\begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow (y-1)(2 y-1)=0 \\\\ & \Rightarrow y=1, \frac{1}{2} \\\\ & \therefore P(0,1) \text { and } Q\left(\frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right)\end{aligned}$
<br/><br/>So, $P Q=\sqrt{\left(\frac{1}{2}-0\right)^2+\left(\frac{1}{2}-1\right)^2}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
About this question
Subject: Mathematics · Chapter: Circles · Topic: Equation of a Circle
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