Question #265821

Find the orthogonal trajectory curve of all the lines passing through the origin that is y = C


Expert's answer

Let the equation be y=Cx,y = Cx, where CC is an arbitrary constant.

Differentiating with respect to x,x, we get, y=C.y'=C.

Eliminate CC


y=yxy'=\dfrac{y}{x}

which is the differential equation of a family of lines. 

Replace yy' with (1/y)(-1/y')


1y=yx-\dfrac{1}{y'}=\dfrac{y}{x}

ydy=xdxydy=-xdx

Integrate


ydy=xdx\int ydy=-\int xdx

y22=x22+c1\dfrac{y^2}{2}=-\dfrac{x^2}{2}+c_1

x2+y2=2c1x^2+y^2=2c_1

By replacing 2c12c_1 with R2R^2 we see that the orthogonal trajectories for the family of straight lines are concentric circles 

x2+y2=R2x^2+y^2=R^2


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