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| Question 670856:  In triangle DEF, the equation of the altitude from D through EF is 4x + 3y - 13 = 0 and the equation of the altitude from E through DF is 2x - y - 4 = 0. What do you call the point where these lines intersect? Find the point where these lines intersect. Explain each step of your solution.
 Found 2 solutions by  Theo, stanbon:
 Answer by Theo(13342)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! basically you're talking about the intersection of 2 lines whose equations are: 4x + 3y - 13 = 0
 2x - y - 4 = 0
 the fact that these lines are altitudes to sides of a triangle doesn't change the fact that you are simply looking for the point of their intersection.
 if there was additional information they were looking for, it would make a difference, but the way the problem is structured, all that other information is extraneous to the heart of the problem which is to find the intersection of the 2 lines.
 the 2 equations are, once again:
 4x + 3y - 13 = 0
 2x - y - 4 = 0
 you need to solve these equations simultaneously to get the solution.
 you need to first transform them to standard form which is ax + by = c
 4x + 3y - 13 = 0 becomes 4x + 3y = 13 once you convert it.
 2x - y - 4 = 0 becomes 2x - y = 4 once you convert it.
 your 2 equations are now:
 4x + 3y = 13
 2x - y = 4
 we will solve by elimination.
 multiply the second equation by 2 to get:
 4x - 2y = 8
 your 2 equations are now:
 4x + 3y = 13
 4x - 2y = 8
 subtract the second equation from the first equation to get:
 5y = 5
 divide both sides of this equation by 5 to get:
 y = 1
 substitute for y in either original equation to find the value of x.
 we'll use:
 4x + 3y = 13
 replace y with 1 to get:
 4x + 3 = 13
 subtract 3 from both sides of this equation to get:
 4x = 10
 divide both sides of this equation by 4 to get:
 x = 2.5
 your solution should be:
 x = 2.5
 y = 1
 this solution should apply to both equation.
 the first original equation is:
 4x + 3y = 13
 replace x with 2.5 and y with 1 to gtet:
 4(2.5) + 3(1) = 13 which becomes:
 10 + 3 = 13 which is true.
 the second original equation is:
 2x - y = 4
 replace x with 2.5 and y with 1 to get:
 2(2.5) - 1) = 4 which becomes:
 5 - 1 = 4 which is also true.
 the solution applies to both equations and is confirmed as good.
 the point where these lines intersect is (x,y) = (2.5,1).
 that intersection point is the solution that is common to both equations.
 
Answer by stanbon(75887)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! the equation of the altitude from D through EF is 4x + 3y - 13 = 0 and the equation of the altitude from E through DF is 2x - y - 4 = 0. What do you call the point where these lines intersect? Find the point where these lines intersect. ---------------
 Solve each equation by "y":
 y = (13-4x)/3
 y = 2x-4
 --------
 (13-4x)/3 = 2x-4
 --------
 13-4x = 6x-12
 10x = 25
 x = 2.5
 --------------
 Solve for "y":
 y = 2x-4
 y = 2*2.5 - 4 = 1
 -------
 The point of intersection is (2.5 , 1)
 -------------------------------------------
 Cheers,
 Stan H.
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