How do you find the exact solutions to the system y+x2=3 and x2+4y2=36?

2 Answers
Oct 18, 2016

The solutions are (0,3) and (±232,114)

Explanation:

y+x2=3

Solve for y:

y=3x2

Substitute y into x2+4y2=36

x2+4(3x2)2=36

Write as the product of two binomials.

x2+4(3x2)(3x2)=36aaa

x2+4(96x2+x4)=36aaaMultiply the binomials

x2+3624x2+4x4=36aaaDistribute the 4

4x423x2=0aaaCombine like terms

x2(4x223)=0aaaFactor out an x2

x2=0 and 4x223=0aaaSet each factor equal to zero

x2=0 and 4x2=23

x=0 and x=±232aaaSquare root each side.

Find the corresponding y for each x using y=3x2

y=30=3,and,y=3234=114

Hence, the solutions are, (1)x=0,y=3;(2and3)x=±232,y=114.

Note that there are three solutions, which means there are three points of intersection between the parabola y+x2=3 and the ellipse x2+4y2=36. See the graph below.

![desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

Oct 18, 2016

Three points of intersection (232,114), (232,114) and (0,3)

Explanation:

Given:
y+x2=3
x2+4y2=36

Subtract the first equation from the second:

4y2y=33

Subtract 33 from both sides:

4y2y33=0

Compute the discriminant:

b24(a)(c)=(1)24(4)(33)=529

Use the quadratic formula:

y=1+5298=3 and y=15298=114

For y=3:

x2=33

x=0

For y=114:

x2=3+114

x2=124+114

x2=234

x=232 and x=232