The length of the latus rectum of the ellipse 3x2 + y2 = 12 is:
- 4
- 3
- 8
- $\frac{4}{\sqrt{3}}$
- $\frac{4}{\sqrt{3}}$
Solution:
$3\text{x}^2+\text{y}^2=12$
$\Rightarrow\frac{\text{x}^2}{4}+\frac{\text{y}^2}{12}=1$
$\therefore\text{ a}^2=4$
$\Rightarrow\text{a}=2$
and $\text{b}^2=12$
$\Rightarrow\text{b}=2\sqrt{3}$
Since b > a, length of latus rectum $=\frac{2\text{a}^2}{\text{b}}=\frac{2\times4}{2\sqrt{3}}=\frac{4}{\sqrt{3}}$

