Can this be solved??

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• October 17th 2009, 10:55 AM
md56
Can this be solved??
x^(2)+y^(2)=9

I can't get pass y=sqrt(-x^2+9)
The system I am submitting answers to says that there is a positive and a negative square root, and that the answers must be numbers. I have to find two solutions to both x and y.
Could someone just point me in the right direction as to steps to solve this?
I have a test Teus and I am so afraid I will flunk, help
!
• October 17th 2009, 10:57 AM
james_bond
Take a look at here ;)
• October 17th 2009, 11:06 AM
md56
Being that I am given no coordinates, that doesn't really help me. I guess the answer is an equation, but I do not do well with a ton of meaningless variables :/
• October 17th 2009, 11:07 AM
md56
Must I find a center first?
• October 17th 2009, 11:14 AM
skeeter
there is no "solving" here ... the equation $x^2 + y^2 = 9$ is a circle of radius 3 centered at the origin.
• October 17th 2009, 11:23 AM
md56
oh, answers were -3 and 3 for both x and y(Bow)
• October 17th 2009, 11:32 AM
skeeter
Quote:

Originally Posted by md56
oh, answers were -3 and 3 for both x and y(Bow)

... that is only one of an infinite number of solutions.
• October 17th 2009, 03:32 PM
MacstersUndead
To reinforce skeeter's point, consider polar coordinates, where x^2 + y^2 = r^2

then r^2 = 9 => r = 3

So any (x,y) Cartesian coordinate that is 3 units away from the origin is a solution.