kyotsu-test 2014 QCourse2-IV-Q1
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Let $a$ and $t$ be positive real numbers. Let $\ell$ be the tangent to the graph $C$ of $y = a x ^ { 3 }$ at a point $\mathrm { P } \left( t , a t ^ { 3 } \right)$, and let Q be the point at which $\ell$ intersects the curve $C$ again. Further, let $p$ be the line passing through the point P parallel to the $x$-axis; let $q$ be the line passing through the point Q parallel to the $y$-axis; and let R be the point of intersection of $p$ and $q$.
Also, let us denote by $S _ { 1 }$ the area of the region bounded by the curve $C$, the straight line $p$ and the straight line $q$, and denote by $S _ { 2 }$ the area of the region bounded by the curve $C$ and the tangent $\ell$. We are to find the value of $\frac { S _ { 1 } } { S _ { 2 } }$.
First, since the equation of the tangent $\ell$ is
$$y = \mathbf { A } a t ^ { \mathbf{B} } x - \mathbf { C } a t ^ { \mathbf{D} } \text {, }$$
the $x$-coordinate of Q is $- \mathbf { E } t$.
Hence, $S _ { 1 }$ is
$$S _ { 1 } = \frac { \mathbf { F G } } { \mathbf { H } } a t ^ { \mathbf { I } } .$$
Also, since $S _ { 2 }$ is obtained by subtracting $S _ { 1 }$ from the area of the triangle PQR, we have
$$S _ { 2 } = \frac { \mathbf { J K } } { \mathbf { L } } a t ^ { \mathbf { M } } .$$
Hence, the value of $\frac { S _ { 1 } } { S _ { 2 } }$ is always
$$\frac { S _ { 1 } } { S _ { 2 } } = \mathbf { N } ,$$
independent of the values of $a$ and $t$.