Find the set for "m" so that the graphs of y=mx and y=x^2+m intersect a single poi

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September 5th 2007, 05:20 PM
ginax7

Find the set for "m" so that the graphs of y=mx and y=x^2+m intersect a single poi

please help!!

find the set for "m" so that the graphs of y=mx and y=(x^2)+m intersect in a single point.
September 5th 2007, 05:27 PM
Krizalid

First, we gotta set $f(x)=mx$ and $g(x)=x^2+m$ , now set $f(x)=g(x)$

$x^2+m-mx=0\implies x^2-mx+m=0$

The discriminant of this must be zero (such that $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ intersect in a single point), so

$m^2-4m=0\implies m=0,4$
September 5th 2007, 05:28 PM
topsquark

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginax7

please help!!

find the set for "m" so that the graphs of y=mx and y=(x^2)+m intersect in a single point.

ginax7, please consider using a different colored font. You know, black really is an acceptable color for typing. Really! :D

Quote:

Find the set for "m" so that the graphs of y = mx and y = (x^2)+m intersect in a single point.

Let
$mx = x^2 + m$

$x^2 - mx + m = 0$

This must have only one solution, so the discriminant must be 0:
$(-m)^2 + 4m = 0$

$m^2 - 4m = 0$

$m(m - 4) = 0$

So either m = 0 or m = 4.

-Dan
September 5th 2007, 05:32 PM
ginax7

thanks

thanks guys! sorry bout the pinkness! It's the first day of school and I havent even learned about discriminants I dunno why hes giving us problems like these :(
September 5th 2007, 05:38 PM
Krizalid

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginax7

thanks guys! sorry bout the pinkness! It's the first day of school and I havent even learned about discriminants I dunno why hes giving us problems like these :(

Suppose you have the following quadratic equation $ax^2+bx+c=0,\,\forall a,b,c\in\mathbb R,\,a\ne0$

The following formula solves this equation

$x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

The expression $\Delta=b^2-4ac$ it's called discriminant, which says who rules here! :)

If $\Delta>0$ , then the equation has two real and different roots.

If $\Delta=0$ , the the equation has two real and equal roots

If $\Delta<0$ , the equation has two complex roots.

Hope it helps :)