Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / Paper 1 / 20 / b / Solution

The seven requested parabolas are $y=c{x}^2$ for $c=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3$; the case $c=0$ is the horizontal axis. Positive $c$ opens upward, negative $c$ downward, and larger $|c|$ gives a narrower parabola. All pass through the origin with a horizontal tangent line.

To find orthogonal trajectories, use the continuous family $y=c{x}^2$ containing these seven representative members. Its slope is $y^{\prime }=2cx=2y/x$ away from $x=0$. Two finite slopes of perpendicular tangents multiply to $-1$, so the orthogonal slope isThis separable differential equation gives $2ydy=-xdx$, henceThese ellipses are the regular real trajectories; $C=0$ is a single point, not a regular curve, and $C<0$ has no real points. One example is $x^2+2y^2=2$, with semiaxes $\sqrt{2}$ horizontally and $1$ vertically.

The implicit tangent relation $2xdx+4ydy=0$ also describes points with vertical tangents, where the slope quotient is unavailable. At intersections with the member $y=0$, the ellipse has a vertical tangent line and is perpendicular to that horizontal axis. The common origin of the parabolas is not on any regular trajectory with $C>0$. The sketch shows the requested seven members and the example ellipse.