Consider the family of circles $${x^2} + {y^2} = {r^2},\,\,2 < r < 5$$. If in the first quadrant, the common taingent to a circle of this family and the ellipse $$4{x^2} + 25{y^2} = 100$$ meets the co-ordinate axes at $$A$$ and $$B$$, then find the equation of the locus of vthe mid-point of $$AB$$.

Let $$ABC$$ be a triangle having $$O$$ and $$I$$ as its circumcenter and in centre respectively. If $$R$$ and $$r$$ are the circumradius and the inradius, respectively, then prove that $${\left( {IO} \right)^2} = {R^2} - 2{\mathop{\rm Rr}\nolimits} $$. Further show that the triangle BIO is a right-angled triangle if and only if $$b$$ is arithmetic mean of $$a$$ and $$c$$.

The number of real solutions of
$${\tan ^{ - 1}}\,\,\sqrt {x\left( {x + 1} \right)} + {\sin ^{ - 1}}\,\,\sqrt {{x^2} + x + 1} = \pi /2$$ is

The function $$f(x)=$$ $${\sin ^4}x + {\cos ^4}x$$ increases if