PARABOLA

MATHEMATICS
JEE MAIN PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS – 2018-2023
Chapter Name :- PARABOLA
(Important Questions Only)

1. If the tangent at (1, 7) to the curve x2 = y – 6 touches the circle x2 + y2 + 16x + 12y + c = 0 then the
value of c is :
[JEE-MAIN_8-April-2018]
(1) 85 (2) 95 (3) 195 (4) 185
2. Tangent and normal are drawn at P(16,16) on the parabola y2 = 16x, which intersect the axis of the
parabola at A and B, respectively. If C is the centre of the circle through the points P, A and B and
CPB = , then a value of tan  is :
[JEE-MAIN_8-April-2018]
4 1
(1) 3 (2) (3) (4) 2
3 2
3. Axis of a parabola lies along x-axis. If its vertex and focus are at distances 2 and 4 respectively from
the origin, on the positive x-axis then which of the following points does not lie on it?
[JEE-MAIN_09-01-2019_S1]

(1) (4, –4) 

(2) 5,2 6  
(3) 6,4 2  (4) (8, 6)

4. Equation of a common tangent to the circle, x2 + y2 – 6x = 0 and the parabola, y2 = 4x, is:
[JEE-MAIN_09-01-2019_S1]
(1) 3y  x  3 (2) 2 3y  12x  1

(3) 3y  3x  1 (4) 2 3y   x  12

5. Let A(4, –4) and B(9, 6) be points on the parabola, y2 = 4x. Let C be chosen on the arc AOB of the
parabola, where O is the origin, such that the area of ACB is maximum. Then, the area (in sq. units)
of ACB, is
[JEE-MAIN_09-01-2019_S2]
3 1 1
(1) 32 (2) 31 (3) 31 (4) 30
4 4 2
6. If the parabolas y2 = 4b(x – c) and y2 = 8ax have a common normal, other than x-axis, then which one
of the following is a valid choice for the ordered triad (a, b, c)?
[JEE-MAIN_10-01-2019_S1]
1  1 
(1)  ,2,0  (2)  ,2,3  (3) (1, 1, 0) (4) (1, 1, 3)
2  2 

7. The length of the chord of the parabola x2 = 4y having equation x  2y  4 2  0 is

[JEE-MAIN_10-01-2019_S2]

(1) 3 2 (2) 6 3 (3) 2 11 (4) 8 2

 PARABOLA

8. The equation of a tangent to the parabola, x2 = 8y, which makes an angle  with the positive direction
of x-axis, is:
[JEE-MAIN_12-01-2019_S2]
(1) x = y cot – 2tan (2) y = x tan + 2cot
(3) x = y cot + 2tan (4) y = x tan – 2cot
9. The shortest distance between the line y = x and the curve y2 = x – 2 is :
[JEE-MAIN_8-04-2019-S-1]
11 7 7
(1) (2) (3) 2 (4)
4 2 8 4 2
10. The tangent to the parabola y2 = 4x at the point where it intersects the circle x2 + y2 = 5 in the first
quadrant, passes through the point :
[JEE-MAIN_8-04-2019_S2]
3 7  1 4  1 3  1 1
(1)  ,  (2)   ,  (3)  ,  (4)   , 
4 4  3 3  4 4  4 2
11. If one end of a focal chord of the parabola, y2 = 16x is at (1, 4), then the length of this focal chord is
[JEE-MAIN_09-04-2019_S1]
(1) 24 (2) 20 (3) 22 (4) 25
12. The area (in sq. units) of the smaller of the two circles that touch the parabola, y2 = 4x at the point (1,
2) and the x-axis is :
[JEE-Main 09-04-2019-S-2]


(1) 4 3  2  
(2) 8 2  2    
(3) 8 3  2 2 (4) 4  2  2 
13. The tangents to the curve y = (x – 2)2 – 1 at its points of intersection with the line x – y = 3, intersect at
the point :
[JEE-MAIN_12-04-2019_S2]
5   5  5   5 
(1)  ,1 (2)   ,1 (3)  , 1 (4)   , 1
2   2  2   2 
14. If y = mx + 4 is a tangent to both the parabolas, y2 = 4x and x2 = 2by, then b is equal to
[JEE-MAIN_07-01-2020_S1]
(1) –64 (2) 128 (3) –32 (4) –128

15. Let P be a point on the parabola, y2 = 12x and N be the foot of the perpendicular drawn from P on the
axis of the parabola. A line is now drawn through the mid-point M of PN, parallel to its axis which
4
meets the parabola at Q. If the y-intercept of the line NQ is , then :
3
[JEE MAIN_03-09-2020_S1]
1 1
(1) MQ  (2) PN = 3 (3) PN = 4 (4) MQ 
4 3
 PARABOLA
16. Let L1 be a tangent to the parabola y2 = 4 (x + 1) and L2 be a tangent to the parabola y2 = 8(x + 2)
such that L1 and L2 intersect at right angles. Then L1 and L2 meet on the straight line:
[JEE MAIN_06-09-2020_S1]
(1) 2x + 1 = 0 (2) x + 3 = 0 (3) x + 2y = 0 (4) x + 2 = 0
17. If the three normals drawn to the parabola, y2 = 2x pass through the point (a, 0) a  0, then 'a' must be
greater then :
[JEE-MAIN_16-03-2021_S1]
1 1
(1) (2)  (3) –1 (4) 1
2 2
18. Let P be a variable point on the parabola y = 4x2 +1. Then, the locus of the mid-point of the point P
and the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point P to the line y = x is :
[JEE-MAIN_20-July-2021_S2]
(1) (3x – y)2 + (x – 3y) + 2 = 0 (2) 2(3x – y)2 + (x – 3y) + 2 = 0
(3) (3x – y)2 + 2(x – 3y) + 2 = 0 (4) 2(x – 3y)2 + (3x – y) + 2 = 0
19. The length of the latus rectum of a parabola, whose vertex and focus are on the positive x–axis at a
distance R and S (>R) respectively from the origin, is :
[JEE-MAIN_31-08-2021_S1]
(1) 4(S + R) (2) 2(S - R) (3) 4(S - R) (4) 2(S + R)
1 3 1
20. Consider the parabola with vertex  ,  and the directrix y  . Let P be the point where the
2 4 2

1
parabola meets the line x   . If the normal to the parabola at P intersects the parabola again at the
2
point Q, then (PQ)2 is equal to :
[JEE-MAIN_01-09-2021_S2]
75 125 25 15
(1) (2) (3) (4)
8 16 2 2
21. If the line y = 4 + kx , k > 0, is the tangent to the parabola y = x – x2 at the point P and V is the vertex
of the parabola, then the slope of the line through P and V is :
[JEE MAIN_25-06-2022_S2]
3 26 5 23
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2 9 2 6
22. Let the normal at the point P on the parabola y2 = 6x pass through the point (5, 8). If the tangent at P
to the parabola intersects its directrix at the point Q, then the ordinate of the point Q is :
[JEE MAIN_26-06-2022_S1]
9 5
(1) 3 (2)  (3)  (4) 2
4 2
23. Let P and Q be any points on the curves (x – 1)2 + (y + 1)2 = 1 and y = x2, respectively. The distance
between P and Q is minimum for some value of the abscissa of P in the interval
[JEE-MAIN_26-07-2022_S2]
 1 1 3  1 1 3 
(1)  0,  (2)  ,  (3)  ,  (4)  , 1
 4 2 4  4 2 4 
 PARABOLA
24. If the length of the latus rectum of a parabola, whose focus is (a, a) and the tangent at its vertex is x +
y = a, is 16, then |a| is equal to :
[JEE-MAIN_27-07-2022_S2]

(1) 2 2 (2) 2 3 (3) 4 2 (4) 4

25. If the tangents drawn at the points P and Q on the parabola y2 = 2x – 3 intersect at the point R(0, 1),
then the orthocentre of the triangle PQR is :
[JEE-MAIN_28-07-2022_S1]
(1) (0, 1) (2) (2, –1) (3) (6, 3) (4) (2, 1)
26. The equations of two sides of a variable triangle are x = 0 and y = 3, and its third side is a tangent to
the parabola y2 = 6x. The locus of its circumcentre is :
[JEE-MAIN_25-01-2023_S2]
(1) 4y2 –18y – 3x – 18 = 0 (2) 4y2 + 18y + 3x + 18 = 0
(3) 4y2 –18y + 3x + 18 = 0 (4) 4y2 – 18y – 3x + 18 = 0
27. Let y = mx + c, m > 0 be the focal chord of y2 = –64x, which is tangent to (x 10)2  y 2  4 . Then, the

value of 4 2 (m  c) is equal to ______.

[JEE-MAIN_20-July-2021_S1]
28. Let P1 be a parabola with vertex (3, 2) and focus (4, 4) and P2 be its mirror image with respect to the
line x + 2y = 6. Then the directrix of P2 is x + 2y = _____ .
[JEE MAIN_24-06-2022_S2]
29. A circle of radius 2 unit passes through the vertex and the focus of the parabola y2 = 2x and touches
2
 1
the parabola y =  x –    , where  > 0. Then (4 – 8)2 is equal to _______ .
 4 
[JEE MAIN_27-06-2022_S1]
30. A triangle is formed by the tangents at the point (2, 2) on the curves y2 = 2x and x2 + y2 = 4x, and the
line x + y + 2 = 0. If r is the radius of its circumcircle, then r2 is equal to_______.
[JEE-MAIN_29-01-2023_S2]

*********

ANSWERKEY_PARABOLA
1. (2) 2. (4) 3. (4) 4. (1) 5. (3) 6. (4) 7. (2)
8. (3) 9. (4) 10. (1) 11. (4) 12. (3) 13. (3) 14. (4)
15. (1) 16. (2) 17. (4) 18. (2) 19. (3) 20. (2) 21. (3)
22. (2) 23. (3) 24. (3) 25. (2) 26. (3) 27. 34 28. 10
29. 63 30. 10
 PARABOLA

PARABOLA SOLUTIONS

1 4. A tangent to parabola y2 = 4x is
1. T. at (1, 7) for x2 = y – 6 is x = (y+7) – 6
2 1
y  mx  ...(1)
m
 2x = y + 7 – 12  2x – y + 5 = 0
This line is also the tangent to circle
centre (–8, –6)
x2 + y2 – 6x = 0
 foot of perpendicular is
 Centre of circle = (3, 0)
x  8 y  6 –  –16  6  5
  radius of circle = 3
2 –1 4 1
1
x8 y 6 5 3m 
   1 m
 3
2 –1 5 1  m2
x = 2 – 8 = – 6, y = – 6 – 1 = –7 1
 m
x2 + y2 + 16x + 12y + c = 0 3
36 + 49 – 96 – 84 + c = 0 Equation of common tangents are:
c = 95 1
y x 3
2. 3

 3y  x  3 is one of the common

tangent
5. Let the coordinates of C is (t2, 2t).
 Area of ACB

t2 2t 1
1
= 9 6 1
2
4 4 1
Hence APC = 90 –   PAC = 90 – 
1 2
= |t (6 + 4) –2t(9 – 4) +1(–36 – 24)|
1 2
now tangent slope = tan (90 – ) = 
t 1
= |10t2 – 10t – 60|
tan = 2 2

3. Vertex and focus of given parabola is (2, 0) = 5|t2 – t – 6|

2
and (4, 0) respectively  1  25
= 5 t    [Here, t  (0, 3)]
Equation of parabola is  2 4

1
For maximum area, t 
2
125 1
 Maximum area =  31 sq. units
4 4
6. Note: x-axis is a common normal. Hence
(y – 0)2 = 4 × 2(x – 2) all the options are correct for m = 0.
y2 = 8x – 16 Normal to y2 = 8ax is
Clearly (8, 6) does not lies on given y = mx – 4am – 2am3
parabola. ...(1)

O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
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Page # 205
 PARABOLA

Normal to y2 = 4b (x – c) with slope m is tx = y + at2

y = m(x – c) – 2bm – bm3 y = tx – at2
...(2) t = tan
(1) and (2) are identical y = tanx – 2 tan2
 4am + 2am3 = cm + 2bm + bm3  coty = x –2 tan
 4a + 2am2 = c + 2b + bm2 or m = 0 x  y cot  2 tan
 4a – c – 2b = (b – 2a) m2 9. The shortest distance between line y = x
or (X-axis is common normal always) and parabola = the distance between line y
4a  2b  c c = x and tangent of parabola having slope
 m2   2 
b  2a b  2a 1. Let equation of tangent of parabola
c c having slope 1 is,
m2  0  2  0 20
b  2a b  2a a
y = m (x – 2) +
c m
Only (1, 1, 3) satisfies 20
b  2a 1
where m = 1 and a 
7. For intersection point A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) 4

x2 7
x 2 4 2 0 Equation of tangent y  x 
4
4
Distance between the line y = x and the
2x 2  4x  16 2  0
tangent
7
0
x1  x 2  2 2,x1x 2  16,(x1  x 2 )2  8  64  72 4 7
= 
1 1
2 2
4 2

 x1  2y1  4 2  0
10. Intersection point of
x 2  2y 2  4 2  0 x2 + y2 = 5, y2 = 4x
 x2 + 4x – 5 = 0
 x2 + 5x – x – 5 = 0
 x 2  x1   2  y 2  y1    x 2  x1   2  y 2  y1 
2 2

 x(x + 5) –1(x + 5) = 0
 x = 1, –5
 x 2  x1 
2
 AB   (y 2  y1 ) 2
Intersection point in 1st quadrant be (1, 2)
equation of tangent to y2 = 4x at (1, 2) is
(x  x1 )2
= (x 2  x 1 )  2
2
y × 2 = 2(x + 1)
2
 y=x+1
3 3
= | x 2  x1 | .  6 2 6 3  x–y+1=0 …(i)
2 2
8. x2 = 8y 3 7
 ,  lies on (i)
 4 4
Equation of tangent at P
11. y2 = 16x  a=4
One end of focal chord (1, 4)
1
 2 at =4  t
2

O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
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Page # 206
 PARABOLA

   
2 2
 1 Area =  4  2 2  8 3  2 2
Length of focal chord = a  t  
 r
2
 1
= 4   2   = 25
 2 

13.
Equation of chord is T = 0
1
 (y  k)  (x  2)(h  2)  1
2
12.
yk
The circle and parabola will have common   xh  2x  2h  3
2
tangent at P(1, 2)
 (2h – 4) x – y – 4h + 6 – k = 0
 Equation of tangent to parabola
Given x – y – 3 = 0
(x  1)
 y  (2)  4  2y  2x  2 2h  4 4h  6  k
2   1
1 3
y=x+1
5
Let equation of circle be (using family of h ,k  1
2
circles)
1
(x – x1)2 + (y – y1)2 + T = 0 14. Tangent on y2 = 4x is y  mx 
m
 c  (x – 1)2 + (y – 2)2 + (x – y + 1) = 0 But given y = mx + 4
Also circle touches x-axis  y-coordinate 1 1
  4 i.e. m 
of centre = radius m 4
 c  x2 + y2 + ( – 2)x + (– – 4)y + ( + x
Now y   4 is tangent on x2 = 2by also
5) = 0 4
x 
4
2
   2     4 
2
 x 2  2b   4 
      (  5) 4 
2  2   2 
bx
 x2   8b  0
2
For tangent Discriminant = 0
 2  4  4
   5   2  4  4  4  20 b2
4  32b  0
4
  2  8  16  0  b = –128
8  64  64
 
2
= 44 2

  4  4 2 (Other value forms bigger

circle)


Hence centre of circle 2 2  2,4  2 2  15.

Radius = 4  2 2 Let P(at2, 2at) where a = 3

 N(at2, 0)  M(at2, at)

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Page # 207
 PARABOLA

 QM  y = at

at 2
So y2 = 4ax  x
4

 at 2 
 Q ,at 
 4 
18.
4
 QN  y 
3t
x  at 2  KC
 1
hc
 4 hK
 QN passes through  0,  , then
 3 C P(x,y)
2
4 4 1
 
at 2   at = 1  t   x C y C
R ,
3 3t 3
 2 2 
Now,
x h K y h k
3 1 R   ,   
MQ  at 2  and PN  2at  2 2 4 4 2 4 4
4 4
1 x h K
16. L : y = m1x + 1 + h  
m1 2 4 4

2 2h K 3K h
L : y = m2 x + 2 + x  ,y  
m2 2 2 2 2
If L1 and L2 intersects at (h, k) then Y  4x 2  1
m12 (h  1)  km1  1  0 ...(1)  3k  h   3h  k 
2

 2   4 2  1
m 22 (h  2)  km 2  1  0 ...(2)    
1
 m2  
m1

m12  km1  (h  2)  0 ...(3) V F

from (1) and (3) (R,0) (S,0)
h  1 k 1
 
1 k h2
19.
 h+3=0
V  Vertex
 x+3=0
F  focus
17. For standard parabola
For more than 3 normals (on axis) VF = S – R
L So latus rectum = 4(S – R)
x (where L is length of L.R.)
2
For y2 = 2x
L.R. = 2
for (a, 0)
L.R.
a a1
2

20.
O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
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Page # 208
 PARABOLA
2
 3  1
y  4  x  2 .......(1)
   
1
For x = –
2
3 7  1 7
y  1 y   P  , 
4 4  2 4
 1 1 22.
Now y '  2  x   At x = 
 2 2 Equation of normal : y = tx + 2at + at3

 mT = – 2, mN =
1  3
2 a  2 
 
Equation of Normal is since passing through (5, 8), we get t = 2
7 1 1 Co-ordinate of Q : (6, 6)
y   x  
4 2 2
Equation of tangent at Q : x + 2y + 6 = 0
x
y  2 3  3 9 
2 Put x  to get R ,  , 
2  2 4 
Now put y in equation (1)
2
x 3 1
 2 x  
2 4 2

1
 x  2&  23.
2
 Q(2,3)

125 Q = (t, t2)

Now (PQ)2 = Option (2)
16 mCQ = mnormal
21. Slope of tangent at P = Slope of line AP t2  1 1
–
  2  4 t –1 2t
y ' |p  1  2 

Let f(t) = 2t3 + 3t – 1
Solving  = 2 P(2,6)
 1  1  1 1
f   f    0  t  , 
5 4 3 4 3
Slope of PV =
2
P  (1 + cos(90 + ), –1+ sin (90
+ ))
P = (1– sin, –1+ cos)
1 cos 
mnormal = mCP  – =  tan = 2t
2t – sin 

2t
x = 1 – sin = 1 – = g(t) (let)
1  4t 2
 g’(t) < 0
g(t)  function

 1 1
t  , 
4 3

O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
Mob. 8888000021, 7410900901, 7410900906, 7410900907, 7410900908
www.competishun.com
Page # 209
 PARABOLA

MPQ × MPR = –  PQ  PR
 1 1 Orthocentre = P (2, –1)
 g(t)  (0.44, 0.485)   , 
 4 2 26. y2 = 6x and y2 = 4ax
3
 4a = 6  a =
2
3
y = mx + ; (m  0)
2m
24. 6m  3 6m  3
h= 2
,k= ,
4m 4m

a 16
|P| = = =4
2 4

|a| = 4 2
Ans. (C)
Now eliminating m and we get
25. y2 = 2x – 3 …(i)
 3h = 2(–2k2 + 9k – 9)
Equation of chord of contact
 4y2 – 18y + 3x + 18 = 0
PQ : r = 0
yx1 = (x + 0) – 3 27. y 2  64x
y=x–3 …(2) Focus : (–16, 0)
Y = mx + c is focal chord
 c = 16m ….(1)
Y = mx + c is tangent to

(x  10)2  y 2  4

from (1) and (2)  y  m(x 10)  2 1  m2

 x 3
2
= 2x – 3
 c  10m  2 1  m2
x2 – 8x + 12 = 0
 16m  10m  2 1  m2
(x – 2)(x – 6) = 0
x = 2 or 6  6m  2 1  m2 (m  0)
y = –1or 3  9m2  1  m2
1 8
m  &c
2 2 2
 17 
4 2(m c)  4 2    34
2 2 

1
MPQ = =1
4
2 1 28.
MQR = 
6 3
2
MPR = = –1
–2
O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
Mob. 8888000021, 7410900901, 7410900906, 7410900907, 7410900908
www.competishun.com
Page # 210
 PARABOLA

P1 : Directorix : 63 8  63
=2+ =
x + 2y = k 4 4
x + 2y – k = 0 4 – 8 = 63
34–K (4 – 8)2 = 63
 5
5
30. S1 : y2 = 2x S2 : x2 + y2 = 4x
|7 – k| = 5 P(2, 2) is common point on S1 and S2
7–K=5 7 – K = –5 T1 is tangent to S1 at P
k=2 k =12 T1 : y.2 = x + 2
Accepted Rejected Passes
 T1 : x – 2y + 2 = 0
through focus
T2 is tangent to S2 at P
 T2 : x.2 + y.2 = 2(x + 2)
 T2 : y = 2

29. Vertex and focus of parabola y2 = 2x are V

1 
(0, 0) and S  ,0  resp.
2 
Let equation of circle be (x – h)2 + (y – k)2
=4
 Circle passes through (0, 0)
 h2 + k2 = 4 …..(1)
and L3 : x + y + 2 = 0 is third line
1 
 Circle passes through  ,0  PQ  a  20
2 
2
QR = b = 8
1 
 – h + k = 4
2
RP = c = 6
2 
1
15 Area (PQR) = = ×6×2=6
h2 + k2 – h = …..(2) 2
4
On solving (1) and (2) abc 160
 r   10  r3 = 10
4 4
15
4–h=
4
15 1
h=4– =
4 4

63
k=+
4

63
k=– is rejected as circle with centre
4
 1 63 
 ,  can’t touch given parabola.
4 4 
Equation of circle is
2
1  63 
2

 x – 4    k – 4  = 4
   
O FFICE A DDRESS : P LOT NUMBER 35, GOPALPURA BYPASS R OAD, NEAR RIDDHI SIDDHI C IRCLE, 10-B SCHEME,
TRIVENI N AGAR, GOPAL P URA MODE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 302020
Mob. 8888000021, 7410900901, 7410900906, 7410900907, 7410900908
www.competishun.com
Page # 211