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📐 Mathematics  ·  Straight Lines  ·  JEE

If a point moves such that its distances from (3,0) and (-3,0) sum to 10, it traces:

Answer: An ellipse.

  • A A circle
  • B An ellipse
  • C A hyperbola
  • D A parabola

Correct answer: B. An ellipse

Explanation: Sum of distances from two fixed points = constant > distance between foci: definition of an ellipse. Foci (±3,0), 2a=10, a=5.

Slope as Rise over Runxy(x₁,y₁)(x₂,y₂)run = x₂−x₁rise = y₂−y₁m = rise/run = (y₂−y₁)/(x₂−x₁) = tanθ

The slope of a line is the ratio of vertical change (rise) to horizontal change (run) between any two points on it - equivalently, the tangent of the angle θ the line makes with the positive x-axis.

Concept context

Points, lines, and curves on the Cartesian plane

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