Finding the Point of Intersection: Is (-2, -2.5) the Solution?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter nicholar1
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Intersection Point
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The point of intersection for the lines defined by the equations 4y = x - 8 and 2y = 3x + 1 is (-2, -2.5). This was determined by solving the simultaneous equations through substitution and elimination methods. The calculations confirmed that substituting x = -2 into both equations yields consistent results, verifying the solution. The process involved rewriting the second equation and equating it to the first to find the value of x, followed by calculating y.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of simultaneous equations
  • Familiarity with substitution and elimination methods
  • Basic algebraic manipulation skills
  • Knowledge of linear equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Practice solving simultaneous equations using substitution and elimination methods
  • Explore graphical methods for finding intersections of linear equations
  • Learn about systems of equations in higher dimensions
  • Study the implications of intersection points in real-world applications
USEFUL FOR

Students learning algebra, educators teaching mathematics, and anyone interested in solving linear equations and understanding their graphical representations.

nicholar1
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I am looking for some help on how you find the point of intersection of the following two lines:

4y = x - 8
2y = 3x + 1

Thanks for any help.

/Nichola
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
nicholar1 said:
Hi,

I am looking for some help on how you find the point of intersection of the following two lines:

4y = x - 8
2y = 3x + 1

Thanks for any help.

/Nichola

Hi Nichola

The intersection will be at the point where the equations are equal. Are you familiar with solving simultaneous equations either by substitution or elimination?

Multiply the second equation by 2:

[math]4y = 6x+2[/math]

You can then subtract this equation from the first one to eliminate y
 
SuperSonic4 said:
Hi Nichola

The intersection will be at the point where the equations are equal. Are you familiar with solving simultaneous equations either by substitution or elimination?

Multiply the second equation by 2:

[math]4y = 6x+2[/math]

You can then subtract this equation from the first one to eliminate y

Hi,

No I have never done simultaneous equations before, that's where I'm getting confused, how they work together.
 
nicholar1 said:
Hi,

I am looking for some help on how you find the point of intersection of the following two lines:

4y = x - 8
2y = 3x + 1

Thanks for any help.

/Nichola

nicholar1 said:
Hi,

No I have never done simultaneous equations before, that's where I'm getting confused, how they work together.

Welcome to MHB Nichola! :)

We can multiply the second equation by 2 as Supersonic suggested.
That is, we start with:
$$2y = 3x + 1$$
and we end up with
$$4y = 6x + 2$$

Now we can see that according to the first equation $4y=x-8$ and according to the rewritten second equation we also have that $4y=6x+2$.
Since both are equal to $4y$ it must be that $x-8$ is equal to $6x+2$.

How would you solve the equation $x-8 = 6x+2$?
 
I like Serena said:
Welcome to MHB Nichola! :)

We can multiply the second equation by 2 as Supersonic suggested.
That is, we start with:
$$2y = 3x + 1$$
and we end up with
$$4y = 6x + 2$$

Now we can see that according to the first equation $4y=x-8$ and according to the rewritten second equation we also have that $4y=6x+2$.
Since both are equal to $4y$ it must be that $x-8$ is equal to $6x+2$.

How would you solve the equation $x-8 = 6x+2$?

So to solve the equation $x-8 = 6x+2$ we:

Add 8 to both sides: $x = 6x+10$
Subtract 6x from both sides: $-5x = 10$
Divide both sides by -5: $x = -2$

So, substituting x = -2 into the equations give:

$4y = -2 - 8 = -10$

$2y = 3 x (-2) + 1 = -5$

So dividing -10 by 4 or -5 by 2 gives -2.5.

So does that mean the point of intersection is (-2, -2.5)?

Thanks for the help guys :)

/Nichola
 
nicholar1 said:
So to solve the equation $x-8 = 6x+2$ we:

Add 8 to both sides: $x = 6x+10$
Subtract 6x from both sides: $-5x = 10$
Divide both sides by -5: $x = -2$

So, substituting x = -2 into the equations give:

$4y = -2 - 8 = -10$

$2y = 3 x (-2) + 1 = -5$

So dividing -10 by 4 or -5 by 2 gives -2.5.

So does that mean the point of intersection is (-2, -2.5)?

Thanks for the help guys :)

/Nichola

Let's verify...

Substiting (-2, -2.5) in:
\begin{aligned}4y &= x - 8 \\
2y &= 3x + 1
\end{aligned}
gives:
\begin{aligned}4 \cdot -2.5 &= -2 -8 \\
2 \cdot -2.5 &= 3 \cdot -2 + 1
\end{aligned}
simplifying:
\begin{aligned}-10 &= -10 \\
-5 &= -5
\end{aligned}

We have a match, so this is the correct solution! (Happy)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K