document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1184857>Question 1184857</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me to solve this.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Problem 1: two similarly-charged particles are propelled towards each other as shown. Instead of colliding, they repel each other and take hayperbolic paths.if the equation of the hyperbola is x²-y²=16,how many units away are they from each other when they are at their closest? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #815519 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=815519\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The hyperbola x^2-y^2=16 has its center at (0,0), and the two branches open right and left.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "By symmetry, the points on the two branches that are closest together are when y=0.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substituting y=0 in the equation gives x=-4 and x=4, so the points on the two branches that are closest together are (-4,0) and (4,0).<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the closest together the two branches of the parabola are is 8 units.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );