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 answer
    B
    $x+y-14xy=0$
  • 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: $x+y-14xy=0$

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'B'.

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