Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021/10/b/solution

The two real slope roots of are distinct because their discriminant is . Vieta's formulas give , so the tangent vectors and have zero scalar product. Whenever the coefficients define local solution curves, the two families are therefore orthogonal trajectories.
For the stated example at , the slopes are and . In the family from part a, the constants are and , giving
Both curves pass through , and verifies the right angle.
Figure 1.
Two members of the same parabolic family pass through (3,4) with perpendicular tangent lines
. Details.

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