First slide
Equation of line in Straight lines
Question

A light beam from the point A(3,10) reflects from the straight line 2x+y6=0  and then passes through the point B(7,2) . Find the equations of the incident and reflected beams. 

Moderate
Solution

The incident ray will passes through the point  A(3,10) and the image of B(7,12) with respect to the line 2x+y6=0 
Suppose that the image of  B(7,2) with respect  to the line 2x+y6=0  is P(h,k)
It implies 
h72=k21=2(2(7)+26)22+12 hx1a=ky1b=2ax1+by1+ca2+b2h72=k21=2(10)5h72=k21=4 
Hence,h72    =4      k21=4h7    =8   and  k2=4h=1                  k=2  
The image is   (-1,2)
Equation of incident line is the equation of the line joining  A(3,10) and P(1,2)
It implies 
y10=21013(x3)y10=3(x3)y10=3x93xy+1=0
Therefore, the equation of the incident ray is  3xy+1=0
The reflected ray is passing through the point of intersection of the incident ray and the surface line
The point of intersection of 3xy+1=0  and 2x+y6=0 is  (1,4)
Hence the equation of the reflected ray is equation of the line joining  (1,4) and  (7,2)
It implies 
y4=2471(x1)y4=13(x1)3y12=x+1x+3y13=0
Therefore, the equation of the reflected ray is  x+3y13=0

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