document.write( "Question 985482: For the circle \"+x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+=+4+\" and the line \"+y+=+mx+%2B+4+\", determine the exact values of the gradient \"+m+\" so that the line:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "a) is a tangent to the circle
\n" ); document.write( "b) intersects the circle in two places
\n" ); document.write( "c) does not intersect the circle
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Algebra.Com's Answer #606360 by ikleyn(52800)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the intersection points of the circle and the straight line,  substitute  \"y\" = \"mx+%2B+4\"  into the equation  \"x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2\" = \"4\".  You will get\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2\" + \"%28mx%2B4%29%5E2\" = \"4\",\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2\" + \"m%5E2%2Ax%5E2+%2B+2%2A4%2Amx+%2B+4\" = \"4\",\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%281+%2B+m%5E2%29%2Ax%5E2+%2B+8mx+%2B+16\" = \"4\",\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%281+%2B+m%5E2%29%2Ax%5E2+%2B+8mx+%2B+12\" = \"0\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Next,  apply the quadratic formula to find the roots\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x\" = \"%28-8m+%2B-+sqrt%28d%29%29%2F%282%2A%281%2Bm%5E2%29%29\",\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "where  \"d\"  is the discriminant  \"d\" = \"64%2Am%5E2+-+4%2A12%2A%281%2Bm%5E2%29\" = \"%2864-48%29%2Am%5E2+-+48\" = \"16%2Am%5E2+-+48\". \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now everything is determined by the discriminant. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If  \"d\" > \"0\",  then there are two roots.  Correspondingly,  there are two intersection points. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In opposite,  if there are two intersection points,  then there are two roots, hence, \"d\" > \"0\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If  \"d\" = \"0\",  then there is only one root.  It means that the straight line tangents the circle. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "And in opposite,  if the straight line tangents the circle, then there is only one root,  hence,  \"d\" = \"0\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Finally,  \"d\" < \"0\" <-----> there are no intersection points. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thus you need to solve this critical equation\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"16%2Am%5E2+-+48\" = \"0\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It gives\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m\" = +/- \"sqrt%283%29\". \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So,  if  \"m\" = +/- \"sqrt%283%29\",  then the straight line tangents the circle.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If  \"abs%28m%29\" > \"sqrt%283%29\",  then  \"d\">\"0\"  and there are two intersection points. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If  \"-sqrt%283%29\" < \"m\" < \"sqrt%283%29\",  then \"d\"<\"0\"  and there are no intersection points. \r
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