MAH-CET 2026 — Mathematics PYQ
MAH-CET | Mathematics | 2026Let be a chord of a circle subtending a right angle at the center. Then the locus of centroid of triangle as moves on the circle is

Let AB be a chord of a circle x2+y2=a2 subtending a right angle at the center. Then the locus of centroid of triangle PAB as P moves on the circle is
a parabola
a circle
(Correct Answer)an ellipse
a pair of straight lines
a circle
1. Parametric Representation of Points A and B:
The given circle is x2+y2=a2 with center at the origin O(0,0) and radius a.
Since the chord AB subtends a right angle (90∘ or 2π) at the center, we can assume the parametric coordinates of points A and B by keeping an angle difference of 2π between them.
Let the parametric angle of A be θ. Then, the parametric angle of B will be θ+2π.
Coordinates of A=(acosθ,asinθ)
Coordinates of B=(acos(θ+2π),asin(θ+2π))=(−asinθ,acosθ)
2. Parametric Representation of Point P:
Since P is a variable point moving on the same circle, let its parametric angle be ϕ.
Coordinates of P=(acosϕ,asinϕ)
3. Finding the Centroid of △PAB:
Let the centroid of △PAB be G(h,k).
The formula for the coordinates of a centroid with vertices (x1,y1), (x2,y2), and (x3,y3) is:
G(h,k)=(3x1+x2+x3,3y1+y2+y3)
Substituting the coordinates of A, B, and P:
h=3acosθ−asinθ+acosϕ
k=3asinθ+acosθ+asinϕ
Rearranging these equations to isolate the terms containing ϕ:
3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)=acosϕ— (Equation 1)
3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)=asinϕ— (Equation 2)
4. Eliminating the Variable ϕ:
Squaring and adding Equation 1 and Equation 2:
[3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)]2+[3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)]2=a2(cos2ϕ+sin2ϕ)
Since cos2ϕ+sin2ϕ=1:
[3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)]2+[3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)]2=a2
Expanding the brackets:
(9h2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)+a2(cosθ−sinθ)2)+(9k2−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+a2(sinθ+cosθ)2)=a2
We know that:
(cosθ−sinθ)2=cos2θ+sin2θ−2sinθcosθ=1−sin2θ
(sinθ+cosθ)2=sin2θ+cos2θ+2sinθcosθ=1+sin2θ
Adding these two parts gives:
a2(1−sin2θ)+a2(1+sin2θ)=a2+a2=2a2
Substitute this back into the equation:
9h2+9k2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+2a2=a2
9h2+9k2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+a2=0
5. Conclusion:
Since the chord AB is fixed in its position, θ acts as a constant angle. The variable parameters are completely simplified, and the resulting equation is of the second degree in h and k where the coefficients of h2 and k2 are equal (9) and there is no hk term.
Replacing (h,k) with (x,y) to find the general locus:
9x2+9y2−6ax(cosθ−sinθ)−6ay(sinθ+cosθ)+a2=0
This standard form represents the equation of a circle.
1. Parametric Representation of Points A and B:
The given circle is x2+y2=a2 with center at the origin O(0,0) and radius a.
Since the chord AB subtends a right angle (90∘ or 2π) at the center, we can assume the parametric coordinates of points A and B by keeping an angle difference of 2π between them.
Let the parametric angle of A be θ. Then, the parametric angle of B will be θ+2π.
Coordinates of A=(acosθ,asinθ)
Coordinates of B=(acos(θ+2π),asin(θ+2π))=(−asinθ,acosθ)
2. Parametric Representation of Point P:
Since P is a variable point moving on the same circle, let its parametric angle be ϕ.
Coordinates of P=(acosϕ,asinϕ)
3. Finding the Centroid of △PAB:
Let the centroid of △PAB be G(h,k).
The formula for the coordinates of a centroid with vertices (x1,y1), (x2,y2), and (x3,y3) is:
G(h,k)=(3x1+x2+x3,3y1+y2+y3)
Substituting the coordinates of A, B, and P:
h=3acosθ−asinθ+acosϕ
k=3asinθ+acosθ+asinϕ
Rearranging these equations to isolate the terms containing ϕ:
3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)=acosϕ— (Equation 1)
3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)=asinϕ— (Equation 2)
4. Eliminating the Variable ϕ:
Squaring and adding Equation 1 and Equation 2:
[3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)]2+[3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)]2=a2(cos2ϕ+sin2ϕ)
Since cos2ϕ+sin2ϕ=1:
[3h−a(cosθ−sinθ)]2+[3k−a(sinθ+cosθ)]2=a2
Expanding the brackets:
(9h2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)+a2(cosθ−sinθ)2)+(9k2−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+a2(sinθ+cosθ)2)=a2
We know that:
(cosθ−sinθ)2=cos2θ+sin2θ−2sinθcosθ=1−sin2θ
(sinθ+cosθ)2=sin2θ+cos2θ+2sinθcosθ=1+sin2θ
Adding these two parts gives:
a2(1−sin2θ)+a2(1+sin2θ)=a2+a2=2a2
Substitute this back into the equation:
9h2+9k2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+2a2=a2
9h2+9k2−6ha(cosθ−sinθ)−6ka(sinθ+cosθ)+a2=0
5. Conclusion:
Since the chord AB is fixed in its position, θ acts as a constant angle. The variable parameters are completely simplified, and the resulting equation is of the second degree in h and k where the coefficients of h2 and k2 are equal (9) and there is no hk term.
Replacing (h,k) with (x,y) to find the general locus:
9x2+9y2−6ax(cosθ−sinθ)−6ay(sinθ+cosθ)+a2=0
This standard form represents the equation of a circle.