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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Two Intersecting Lines, 3

Category: Analytic Geometry, Algebra

"Published in Newark, California, USA"

Find the equation of a line that passes through the intersection of x - y = 0 and 3x - 2y = 2 and forms a triangle at 1st Quadrant whose area is 9.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to sketch the graph of two lines as follows:

For x - y = 0,

                    x - y = 0
                    y = x

                    slope (∆y/∆x), m = 1
                    y-intercept = 0

To trace the graph, plot 0 at the y-axis. This is your first point of the line (0, 0). Next, use the slope to get the second point. From the first point, count 1 unit to the right and then 1 unit upward.

For 3x - 2y = 2, 

                    3x - 2y = 2
                    2y = 3x - 2
                    y = 3/2 x - 1

                    slope (∆y/∆x), m = 3/2
                    y-intercept = -1

To trace the graph, plot -1 at the y-axis. This is your first point of the line (0, -1). Next, use the slope to get the second point. From the first point, count 2 units to the right and then 3 units upward. 

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life
  
To get their point of intersection, we have to use the two given equations and solve for x and y as follows


from



Substitute the second equation to the first equation, we have



Substitute x to either of the two equations,



Therefore, their point of intersection is P(2, 2).

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

From the given word problem says "...forms a triangle at 1st Quadrant whose area is 9.", then the line that passes through point P will intersect at x-axis and y-axis. The resulting figure is a right triangle whose sides are x and y. The right angle is the origin while point P is located at the hypotenuse as follows

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

By using the formula for the area of a triangle, the first equation will be





By using the formula for getting the slope of two points, the second equation will be






Substitute the value of y from the first equation to the second equation, we have




Multiply both sides of the equation by x









If you will choose the positive sign,



Substitute the value of x either to the first equation or second equation, we have



The slope of a line is calculated as follows




Therefore, using the Point-Slope Form, the equation of a line is





If you will choose the negative sign,



Substitute the value of x either to the first equation or second equation, we have



The slope of a line is calculated as follows



Therefore, using the Point-Slope Form, the equation of a line is