Finding Points of Intersection by Substitution

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding points of intersection of two graphs using substitution. The equations involved are a linear equation and an ellipse equation.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore solving for one variable in terms of another and substituting into the equations. There are discussions about simplifying expressions and the implications of squaring both sides of an equation. Some participants express uncertainty about finding roots by hand and question the use of the rational roots test.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their attempts at solving the problem, with some providing alternative methods for substitution. There is acknowledgment of different approaches to finding roots, but no consensus has been reached on the best method to proceed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of the equations and the challenges posed by square roots and polynomial roots. There are mentions of specific roots identified through graphing and testing, but the discussion remains open-ended regarding the methods to find these roots analytically.

themadhatter1
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Homework Statement


Find any points of intersection of the graphs by the method of substitution.

[tex]xy+x-2y+3=0[/tex]
[tex]x^2+4y^2-9=0[/tex]

Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution



From the second equation I can solve for y:

[tex]y=\frac{\sqrt{9-x^2}}{2}[/tex]

Plug it into the first equation and simplify...

[tex]\frac{x\sqrt{9-x^2}+2x-2\sqrt{9-x^2}+6}{2}=0[/tex]

Multiply both sides by 2 to get rid of the fraction and get the radicals over to one side, square both sides

[tex](x\sqrt{9-x^2}-2\sqrt{9-x^2})^2=(-2x-6)^2[/tex]

simplify and you get

[tex]-x(x^3-4x^2-x+60)=0[/tex]

I can find x=0 and that Is correct, but the other real root should be -3. I can graph the polynomial (x3-4x2-x+60) on my calculator and see that it has a root of -3 but how can I do it by hand? Any other way besides the rational roots test?
 
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themadhatter1 said:

Homework Statement


Find any points of intersection of the graphs by the method of substitution.

[tex]xy+x-2y+3=0[/tex]
[tex]x^2+4y^2-9=0[/tex]

Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution



From the second equation I can solve for y:

[tex]y=\frac{\sqrt{9-x^2}}{2}[/tex]
That should be [itex]\pm[/itex].

Also, it might be simpler to solve for one variable, say y, in the first equation.
themadhatter1 said:
Plug it into the first equation and simplify...

[tex]\frac{x\sqrt{9-x^2}+2x-2\sqrt{9-x^2}+6}{2}=0[/tex]

Multiply both sides by 2 to get rid of the fraction and get the radicals over to one side, square both sides

[tex](x\sqrt{9-x^2}-2\sqrt{9-x^2})^2=(-2x-6)^2[/tex]

simplify and you get

[tex]-x(x^3-4x^2-x+60)=0[/tex]

I can find x=0 and that Is correct, but the other real root should be -3. I can graph the polynomial (x3-4x2-x+60) on my calculator and see that it has a root of -3 but how can I do it by hand? Any other way besides the rational roots test?
 
themadhatter1 said:

Homework Statement


Find any points of intersection of the graphs by the method of substitution.

[tex]xy+x-2y+3=0[/tex]

x(y+1)- 2y+ 3= 0

x(y+1)= 2y- 3

Solve that for x and avoid square roots.

[tex]x^2+4y^2-9=0[/tex]

Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution



From the second equation I can solve for y:

[tex]y=\frac{\sqrt{9-x^2}}{2}[/tex]

Plug it into the first equation and simplify...

[tex]\frac{x\sqrt{9-x^2}+2x-2\sqrt{9-x^2}+6}{2}=0[/tex]

Multiply both sides by 2 to get rid of the fraction and get the radicals over to one side, square both sides

[tex](x\sqrt{9-x^2}-2\sqrt{9-x^2})^2=(-2x-6)^2[/tex]

simplify and you get

[tex]-x(x^3-4x^2-x+60)=0[/tex]

I can find x=0 and that Is correct, but the other real root should be -3. I can graph the polynomial (x3-4x2-x+60) on my calculator and see that it has a root of -3 but how can I do it by hand? Any other way besides the rational roots test?
 
HallsofIvy said:
x(y+1)- 2y+ 3= 0

x(y+1)= 2y- 3

Solve that for x and avoid square roots.

Ok, so.

[tex]x=\frac{2y-3}{y+1}[/tex]

You can sub that into the other equation and get

[tex]y(4y^3-8y^2-y+6)=0[/tex] Using rational roots test you can find that the root of (4y^3-8y^2-y+6) is 3/2 and of course y= 0 as well.

[tex]\frac{\pm1,2,3,6}{1,2,4}[/tex]

Is this what you had in mind? It is easier than having to do the test with all the factors of 60...
 
Yes, that's what both HallsOfIvy and I had in mind.
 
themadhatter1 said:
You can sub that into the other equation and get

[tex]y(4y^3-8y^2-y+6)=0[/tex]
I'm getting -30 inside the parentheses instead of +6. And a plus 8y2 instead of a minus.69
 

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