Question

Difficulty: MediumSystems of Linear and Non-Linear Equations

The circle x2+y2=25x^2 + y^2 = 25 and the line y=2x5y = 2x - 5 intersect at two points. What is the sum of the yy-coordinates of these two intersection points?

Answer: -2

Answer

The sum of the yy-coordinates of the intersection points is 2-2.
Substituting y=2x5y = 2x - 5 into the circular equation x2+y2=25x^2 + y^2 = 25 yields the quadratic equation 5x220x=05x^2 - 20x = 0. Factoring this equation gives x=0x = 0 and x=4x = 4. Evaluating the linear equation at these values gives the yy-coordinates 5-5 and 33. The sum of these coordinates is 5+3=2-5 + 3 = -2.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Substitute y=2x5y = 2x - 5 into the circle equation x2+y2=25x^2 + y^2 = 25.
x2+(2x5)2=25x^2 + (2x - 5)^2 = 25
To find the points of intersection, we solve the system of equations by substitution.
2
Expand and simplify the resulting equation.
5x220x=05x^2 - 20x = 0
Expanding (2x5)2(2x - 5)^2 gives 4x220x+254x^2 - 20x + 25. Combining like terms and subtracting 25 from both sides simplifies the equation.
3
Factor the quadratic equation to solve for xx.
x=0x = 0 or x=4x = 4
Factoring out 5x5x gives 5x(x4)=05x(x - 4) = 0, which yields the roots x=0x = 0 and x=4x = 4.
4
Find the corresponding yy-coordinates by substituting the xx-values back into y=2x5y = 2x - 5.
The intersection points are (0,5)(0, -5) and (4,3)(4, 3).
For x=0x = 0, y=2(0)5=5y = 2(0) - 5 = -5. For x=4x = 4, y=2(4)5=3y = 2(4) - 5 = 3.
5
Calculate the sum of the yy-coordinates.
2-2
Adding the yy-coordinates 5-5 and 33 gives 5+3=2-5 + 3 = -2.

Key Concept

Systems of Linear and Non-Linear Equations
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