Find the equation of the common tangent of parabola y2=4ax and x2=4by.

Let the equation of common tangent to y2 = 4ax and x2 = 4 by be y = mx + c.

y = mx + c is the tangent to the parabola y2 = 4ax.

is tangent to the parabola x2 = 4 by, then it will cut the parabola x2 = 4 by in two coincidental points.

mx2 = 4bm2x + 4ab

mx2 – 4bm2x – 4ab = 0

∴ D = (– 4bm2)2 – 4 × m × (– 4ab) = 0

Equation of the common tangent is

Thus, the equation of the common tangent is   .

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