A ray of light is sent along the line x-2y-3=0. Upon reaching the line3x-2y-5=0, the ray is reflected from it. If the equation of the line containing reflected ray is ax-2y = b, then find the value of(a+b)?

1 Answer
Sep 13, 2017

a+b = 60

Explanation:

We are given 3 equations:

x-2y-3=0" [1]"
3x-2y-5=0" [2]"
ax-2y = b" [3]"

Find the slope of the line corresponding to equation [1]

-2y = -x+3

y = 1/2x-3/2

m_1 = 1/2

The angle that it forms with the x axis is theta_1 = tan^-1(1/2)

Find the slope of the line corresponding to equation [2]:

-2y=-3x+5

y=3/2x-5/2

m_2=3/2

The angle that it forms with the x axis is theta_2 = tan^-1(3/2)

The angle from line [1] to line [2] is the angle of incidence:

theta_i = tan^-1(3/2)-tan^-1(1/2)" [4]"

Find the slope of the line corresponding to equation [3]:

-2y = -ax+ b

y = a/2x-b/2

m_3 = a/2

The angle that it forms with the x axis is theta_3 = tan^-1(a/2)

The angle from line [2] to line [3] is the angle of reflection:

theta_r = tan^-1(a/2) - tan^-1(3/2)" [5]"

Because the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection we can set the right side of equation [4] equal to the right side of equation 5:

tan^-1(a/2) - tan^-1(3/2) = tan^-1(3/2)-tan^-1(1/2)

tan^-1(a/2) = 2tan^-1(3/2)-tan^-1(1/2)

a = 2tan(2tan^-1(3/2)-tan^-1(1/2))

a = 29

Substitute into equation [3]:

29x-2y = b" [3.1]"

Find the point of intersection of lines [1] and [2]:

x-2y-3=0" [1]"
3x-2y-5=0" [2]"

Subtract [1] from [2]:

2x -2 = 0

x = 1

Substitute 1 for x into equation [1]:

1-2y-3=0

#-2y -2 = 0

y = -1

The point is (1, -1)

Equation [3.1] must contain the same point:

29(1) - 2(-1) = b

b = 31

a+b = 60