# Points of intersection of Parametric Lines

1. Apr 25, 2013

### Dramen

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I'm told to find the 2 points the two curves P and Q will intersect on and the parametric equations are:
$$P (x=t, y=2t-1)$$
$$Q (x=3t-t^2, y=t+1)$$

3. The attempt at a solution
I know i'm supposed to set x-equations and y-equations equal to each and solve so that

$$t=3t-t^2$$ for x
$$2t-1=t+1$$ for y

and when I solve them I get $$t=0$$ and $$t=2$$ for x
and
$$t=2$$ for y
the problem is I can't seem to find another t-value for y

Also I'm not completely sure if I can use t interchangeably between the two equations when solving for them or if I should consider the t to be two separate and unique variables like $$t_1$$ and $$t_2$$

2. Apr 25, 2013

### LCKurtz

That is the problem. You can't assume the curves cross for the same value of the parameters. So call one parameter $t$ and the other $s$ and try setting the $x$ values and $y$ values equal.

3. Apr 25, 2013

### Dramen

I did just that quite a while ago when my instructor had hinted at that idea and this is what I came up with

$$t=3s-s^2$$
$$t=s(3-s)$$
so that for x t=s and t=3-s
so that any same two values fit in the first equality(?) and only 1.5 solves the equality in the second

for y it is
$$2t-1=s+1$$
$$2t=s+2$$
so that for y t=2 and s=2

I'm still not sure how to find a second point of intersection. Since the first point is (1.5,2)?

4. Apr 25, 2013

### LCKurtz

Ignoring the other bad logic, you have two equations in two unknowns. Solve them correctly.

5. Apr 25, 2013

### Dramen

I'm no good when trying to solve for 2 unknowns algebraically like this, because first thought is to substitute $$t=3s-s^2$$ into $$2t-1=s+1$$ but that won't work. And by graph for the first equation t=s=0 or 2 and the second t=s=2

6. Apr 25, 2013

### LCKurtz

Yes it will. Try it.

7. Apr 25, 2013

### Dramen

ok I did that so that $$2(3s-s^2)-1=s+1$$
setting it to 0 gives me $$-2s^2+5s-2=0$$
and solving for that I get s=1/2 and s=2

then I plug those answers into $$t=3s-s^2$$
so that t=1.25 and t=2

so then my points of intersection are at
P (1.25,1.5) and (2,3)
Q (1.25,1.5) and (2,3)

Last edited: Apr 25, 2013
8. Apr 25, 2013

### LCKurtz

So check your work. Do your s and t values work in their equations? If so, do the two curves go through those two points for the corresponding values of s and t?

9. Apr 25, 2013

### Dramen

Yep I checked it and the numbers work.
Thanks for the nudges in the right direction.