Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-ii-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2013/11/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematical methods II course of the University of Oxford 2013 11 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
For reflection between the foci of an ellipse, assume and define . From part (b),On the ellipse this sum is normal to the tangent. Thus a unit tangent obeys . The magnitudes of the projections of the two unit focal directions on the tangent are equal, provingfor the corresponding acute, unoriented line angles.
More explicitly, let . The law of reflection maps an incoming unit ray towhich points from toward . Thus the equal-angle property has the correct incoming/outgoing ray orientation, rather than merely an algebraic bisector assertion.
New to topics? Read the docs here!
