Q35 / 75 · JEE Main 2026 (08 April Shift 2) · Mathematics
If a straight line drawn through the point of intersection of the lines $4x+3y-1=0$ and $3x+4y-1=0$, meets the co-ordinate axes at the points P and Q, then the locus of the mid point of PQ is:
- A$x+y-7=0$
- Correct answerB$x+y-14xy=0$
- C$2x+y+14xy=0$
- D$x+2y-14xy=0$
Solution
The point of intersection of the lines $4x+3y-1=0$ and $3x+4y-1=0$ is obtained by solving them simultaneously.
Adding the two equations gives $7x+7y-2=0 \Rightarrow x+y=\dfrac{2}{7}$.
Subtracting the two equations gives $x-y=0 \Rightarrow x=y$.
Thus, the point of intersection is $\left(\dfrac{1}{7}, \dfrac{1}{7}\right)$.
Let the equation of the line passing through this point and meeting the coordinate axes at $P$ and $Q$ be $\dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} = 1$.
Since the line passes through $\left(\dfrac{1}{7}, \dfrac{1}{7}\right)$, we have:
$\dfrac{1}{7a} + \dfrac{1}{7b} = 1 \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{a} + \dfrac{1}{b} = 7$
The coordinates of the points where the line meets the axes are $P(a, 0)$ and $Q(0, b)$.
Let $(h, k)$ be the midpoint of $PQ$. Then $h = \dfrac{a}{2}$ and $k = \dfrac{b}{2}$, which gives $a = 2h$ and $b = 2k$.
Substituting $a$ and $b$ into the relation $\dfrac{1}{a} + \dfrac{1}{b} = 7$, we get:
$\dfrac{1}{2h} + \dfrac{1}{2k} = 7$
$\dfrac{h+k}{2hk} = 7$
$h+k = 14hk$
Replacing $(h, k)$ with $(x, y)$, the locus of the midpoint is:
$x+y-14xy=0$
Answer: $x+y-14xy=0$
Adding the two equations gives $7x+7y-2=0 \Rightarrow x+y=\dfrac{2}{7}$.
Subtracting the two equations gives $x-y=0 \Rightarrow x=y$.
Thus, the point of intersection is $\left(\dfrac{1}{7}, \dfrac{1}{7}\right)$.
Let the equation of the line passing through this point and meeting the coordinate axes at $P$ and $Q$ be $\dfrac{x}{a} + \dfrac{y}{b} = 1$.
Since the line passes through $\left(\dfrac{1}{7}, \dfrac{1}{7}\right)$, we have:
$\dfrac{1}{7a} + \dfrac{1}{7b} = 1 \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{a} + \dfrac{1}{b} = 7$
The coordinates of the points where the line meets the axes are $P(a, 0)$ and $Q(0, b)$.
Let $(h, k)$ be the midpoint of $PQ$. Then $h = \dfrac{a}{2}$ and $k = \dfrac{b}{2}$, which gives $a = 2h$ and $b = 2k$.
Substituting $a$ and $b$ into the relation $\dfrac{1}{a} + \dfrac{1}{b} = 7$, we get:
$\dfrac{1}{2h} + \dfrac{1}{2k} = 7$
$\dfrac{h+k}{2hk} = 7$
$h+k = 14hk$
Replacing $(h, k)$ with $(x, y)$, the locus of the midpoint is:
$x+y-14xy=0$
Answer: $x+y-14xy=0$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'B'.