SOLUTION: If two circles {{{ x^2 + y^2 + 2x + 2ky + 6 = 0 }}} and {{{ x^2 + y^2 + 2ky + k = 0 }}} intersect orthogonally, then what is the value of k?

Algebra ->  Quadratic-relations-and-conic-sections -> SOLUTION: If two circles {{{ x^2 + y^2 + 2x + 2ky + 6 = 0 }}} and {{{ x^2 + y^2 + 2ky + k = 0 }}} intersect orthogonally, then what is the value of k?      Log On


   



Question 1184285: If two circles +x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2x+%2B+2ky+%2B+6+=+0+ and ++x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2ky+%2B+k+=+0+ intersect orthogonally, then what is the value of k?
Found 2 solutions by MathLover1, ikleyn:
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

answer is: 2 or -3%2F2
Apply 2g1%2Ag2%2B2f+1%2Af+2=c1%2Bc2

2%281%29%280%29%2B2%28k%29%28k%29=6%2Bk+
2k%5E2=6%2Bk+
2k%5E2-k-6=0
2k%5E2-4k%2B3k-6=0
%282k%5E2-4k%29%2B%283k-6%29=0
2k%28k-2%29%2B3%28k-2%29=0
%28k-2%29%282k%2B3%29=0
=>k=2 or k=-3%2F2

Answer by ikleyn(52799) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
If two circles +x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2x+%2B+2ky+%2B+6+=+0+ and ++x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2ky+%2B+k+=+0+ intersect orthogonally, then what is the value of k?
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            As posed,  this problem  HAS  NO  SOLUTION,

            and I will show it  RIGHT  NOW.


First circle

    x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2x+%2B+2ky+%2B+6+=+0

    %28x%5E2+%2B+2x%29 + y%5E2+%2B+2ky%29 = -6

    %28x%2B1%29%5E2+-+1 + %28y%2Bk%29%5E2+-+k%5E2 = -6

    %28x%2B1%29%5E2 + %28y%2Bk%29%5E2 = - 6 + 1 + k^2

    %28x%2B1%29%5E2 + %28y%2Bk%29%5E2 = k^2 - 5

has the center at the point (-1,-k)  and the radius of  sqrt%28k%5E2-5%29.

Note that the condition  k^2 >= 5 is the NECESSARY condition for existing such a circle.



Second circle 

    x%5E2+%2B+y%5E2+%2B+2ky+%2B+k+=+0

    x%5E2 + y%5E2+%2B+2ky = -k

    x%5E2 + %28y%2Bk%29%5E2+-+k%5E2 = -k

    x%5E2 + %28y%2Bk%29%5E2 = k^2-k

has the center at the point (0,-k)  and the radius of  sqrt%28k%5E2-k%29.  

Note that the condition  k^2 - k >= 0 is the NECESSARY condition for existing such a circle.



The line connecting the centers is horizontal y = -k,  and the distance between the centers is 1 unit.


So, we have a right angled triangle, formed by the line of centers as the hypotenuse of 1 unit long,

and the legs, that are the radii, drawn to the intersection point, of the lengths found above.


Next, we write the Pythagorean equation

    %28k%5E2-5%29 + %28k%5E2-k%29 = 1,


which gives
   
    2k^2 - k - 6 = 0.


From this equation, the roots are

    k%5B1%2C2%5D = %281+%2B-+sqrt%281+%2B+4%2A2%2A6%29%29%2F%282%2A2%29 = %281+%2B-+sqrt%2849%29%29%2F4.


Thus the two possible roots are k= 2 and k= -1.5.      


But no one of these values of  k  satisfies the necessary condition  k^2 >= 5.


THEREFORE, the problem, as it is posed, HAS NO SOLUTION.


Solved   (or better to say,  DISPROVED).

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For your safety,  IGNORE  the post by @MathLover1,  since her answer is  WRONG.