Question

50 Points!!

Answer 1

1) The given system of equation contains two variables - x and y - as well as no exponents on the variables in the first equation and an exponent on the second one. Since there is an exponent on at least of the equations, we must use a substitution based method and solve one equation for one variable, then put the solved the equation into other to find one of the solutions - either x or y. With our found x or y, we substitute it back into the original equations to find the value of the either.

Our system can have two solutions (the line crosses twice), one solution (the line and second degree meet at a tangent point) or no solutions.

2) I'll call the two original equations A and B, so that it's easier to follow along. Since B has an exponent, we cannot use elimination. But since B is solved for y, substitution is the way to go and we can start with that.

A) x + y = 2

B) $y = -\frac{1}{4} x^{2} +3$

Since B is solved for y - y on one side, not y on the other - let's put that into equation A and for x. $x + (-\frac{1}{4}x^{2} + 3) = 2$

Since this is a second degree equation, let's rearrange the terms so that the squared term is first. The parentheses are applied too.

$-\frac{1}{4}x^{2} + x + 3 = 2$

Then, we set the equation equal to zero to get $-\frac{1}{4}x^{2} + x + 1 = 0$. We set it equal to zero to use factoring and the Zero Product Property. Before that, let's clear the fractions and multiply the entire equation by the equation's LCD, which is 4.

$-x^{2} + 4x + 4 = 0 .$

Most often, it's easier to see factors with a leading coefficient on the x-squared term when it's positive 1. Multiply the whole equation through by -1 to get

$x^{2} - 4x - 4 = 0$

Because the equation is set equal to zero, we can use the Zero Product Property and solve it by either factoring or the quadratic formula. We need a pair of numbers that multiply to -4 and whose sum is -4. There are only two pairs: -2, and 2; whose sum is zero, and -4 and 1, whose sum is either 3 or -3. Neither pair works so we must use the quadratic formula with a = 1, b = -4, c = -4

By the quadratic formula, (and splitting the pair into two solutions, though they could be combined as "plus or minus",

$x = \frac{-b + \sqrt{b^{2}-4ac} }{2a}$ OR $x = \frac{-b - \sqrt{b^{2}-4ac} }{2a}$

$x = \frac{-(-4) + \sqrt{(-4)^{2} - 4(1)(-4)}}{2(1)}$ OR $x = \frac{-(-4) - \sqrt{(-4)^{2} - 4(1)(-4)}}{2(1)}$

$x = \frac{4 + \sqrt{(16 - (-16)}}{2}$ OR $x = \frac{4 - \sqrt{(16 - (-16)}}{2}$

$x = \frac{4 + \sqrt{32}}{2}$ OR $x = \frac{4 - \sqrt{32}}{2}$

We can write $\sqrt{32}$ as the product of two smaller roots, in this case 16 and 2. (4 and 8 work, but then you need 8 as 4 and 2. So this combines the steps). We now have that

$x = \frac{4 + \sqrt{16}\sqrt{2}}{2}$ OR $x = \frac{4 - \sqrt{16}\sqrt{2}}{2}$

$x = \frac{4 + 4\sqrt{2}}{2}$ OR $x = \frac{4 - 4\sqrt{2}}{2}$

We divide each piece through by 2 to give us that x = 2 + 2√2 or x = 2 - 2√2.

Now we take each of the two solutions and put it back into original equation A. We solve it for y.

x + y = 2

(2 + 2√2) + y = 2

2 + 2√2 + y = 2

2√2 + y = 0

y = -2√2

For the other solution of x = 2 - 2√2, the process is similar.

2 - 2√2 + y = 2

-2√2 + y = 0

y = 2√2

Thus, there are two solutions to this system. They are (2 + 2√2, -2√2) and (2 - 2√2, 2√2).