How to find the intersections of a circle and a line?

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In summary, the conversation revolves around finding the coordinates of points where a circle and a straight line intersect. The equations given are x^2 + y^2 + 6x - 8y + 20 = 0 and y = -2x - 2. By substituting the second equation into the first, we are able to find the intersection points at (-2, 2) and (-4, 6).
  • #1
Casio1
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I want to find the coordinates of any points at which the circle x^2 + y^2 + 6x - 8y + 20 = 0

I have an equation y = -2x - 2

I have tried the following but am struggling with the final understanding.

(x + 3)^2 + (y - 4)^2 = 5

(x + 3)^2 = x^2 + 6x +9

(y - 4)^2 = 4x^2 + 24x + 36

combining and cancelling gives

5x^2 + 30x + 39 = 0

I now require to find the factors, which I am struggling with, I am thinking

x^2 + 10x + 13

In my head I have these numbers running round, factors 3, 6 and 5. I know there is a method to working this out like 3 x 13 = 39, and 6 x 5 = 30 etc, but I just can't seem to grasp it?

Any help appreciated

Thanks(Wondering)
 
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  • #2
Casio said:
I want to find the coordinates of any points at which the circle x^2 + y^2 + 6x - 8y + 20 = 0

I have an equation y = -2x - 2

I have tried the following but am struggling with the final understanding.

(x + 3)^2 + (y - 4)^2 = 5

(x + 3)^2 = x^2 + 6x +9

(y - 4)^2 = 4x^2 + 24x + 36

combining and cancelling gives

5x^2 + 30x + 39 = 0

I now require to find the factors, which I am struggling with, I am thinking

x^2 + 10x + 13

In my head I have these numbers running round, factors 3, 6 and 5. I know there is a method to working this out like 3 x 13 = 39, and 6 x 5 = 30 etc, but I just can't seem to grasp it?

Any help appreciated

Thanks(Wondering)

I'm a little unsure what you're trying to do. Are you trying to find the intersection of the circle with the straight line?
 
  • #3
Hello, Casio!

I assume you want the intersections of the circle and the line . . .


[tex]\begin{array}{cc}x^2 + y^2 + 6x - 8y + 20 \:=\: 0 \\ y \:=\: -2x - 2 \end{array}[/tex]

Why not substitute directly?

[tex]\begin{array}{cc}x^2 + (-2x-2)^2 + 6x - 8(-2x-2) + 20 \:=\:0 \\ x^2 + 4x^2 + 8x + 4 + 6x + 16x + 16 + 20 \:=\:0 \\ 5x^2 + 30x + 40 \:=\:0 \\ x^2 + 6x + 8 \:=\:0 \\ (x+2)(x+4) \:=\:0 \end{array}[/tex]

[tex]\begin{Bmatrix}x = -2 \\ x = -4 \end{Bmatrix}[/tex] . [tex]\Rightarrow[/tex] . [tex] \begin{Bmatrix} y = 2 \\ y = 6 \end{Bmatrix}[/tex]Intersections: .[tex](-2,\,2),\;(-4,\,6)[/tex]
 

FAQ: How to find the intersections of a circle and a line?

What is completing the square?

Completing the square is a mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations by manipulating them into a form that makes it easy to find the roots or solutions.

Why is completing the square useful?

Completing the square is useful because it allows us to solve quadratic equations that cannot be easily solved by factoring or using the quadratic formula. It also helps us graph quadratic equations and find the vertex of the parabola.

How do you complete the square?

To complete the square, you need to follow these steps:1. Make sure the coefficient of the squared term is 1.2. Move the constant term to the other side of the equation.3. Take half of the coefficient of the linear term and square it.4. Add this value to both sides of the equation.5. Factor the left side of the equation into a perfect square.6. Take the square root of both sides of the equation.7. Solve for the variable.

What is the purpose of completing the square?

The purpose of completing the square is to rewrite a quadratic equation in a form that is easy to solve, graph, or work with in other mathematical operations. It also helps us find the vertex of the parabola, which provides important information about the quadratic equation.

Can completing the square be used to solve other types of equations?

Completing the square is a technique specifically used for solving quadratic equations. It cannot be used to solve other types of equations, such as linear or cubic equations. However, the concept of "completing the square" can be applied to other mathematical concepts, such as completing the cube or completing the square root.

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