# Conic Equation

• May 11th 2010, 11:35 PM
Anemori
Conic Equation
Can you help me prove if true or false please:

True or False? Every system of two conic equations whose xy-term is nonexistent has at most 4 points of intersection. graph is not a proof.

Thanks!
• May 12th 2010, 07:32 AM
Soroban
Hello, Anemori!

I have a rather sloppy proof . . .

Quote:

True or False?
Every system of two conic equations whose xy-term is nonexistent
has at most 4 points of intersection. . . True!

We have two conic equations: . $\begin{array}{cccc} Ax^2 + By^2 + Cx + Dy + E &=&0 & [1] \\ Px^2 + Qy^2 + Rx + Sy + T &=& 0 & [2] \end{array}$

Solve [1] for $y\!:\quad By^2 + Dy + (Ax^2 + Cx + E) \:=\:0$

. . Quadratic Formula: . $y \;=\;\frac{-D \pm\sqrt{D^2 - 4B(Ax^2 + Cx + E)}}{2B}$

Substitute into [2]:

. . $Px^2 + Q\left(\frac{-D \pm\sqrt{D^2 - 4B(Ax^2+Cx+E)}}{2B}\right)^2 + Rx \;+$ . $S\left(\frac{-D\pm\sqrt{D^2 - 4B(Ax^2+Cx+E)}}{2b}\right) + T \;\;=\;\;0$

This simplifies to a quartic in $x$ . . . which has at most 4 roots.