2 equations: how do they intersect?

eliW

New member
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
2
Hi All,
I asked this question in a similar forum but it seemes that that site is infected and I cannot enter to it safely. The question was:

[1] \(\displaystyle y = a^2x + 2a \)
[2] \(\displaystyle y = 5ax \)

for which values of \(\displaystyle a \) there is: 0 intersections, 1 intersection ,or infinite intersections?
I have got a good answer but I'll try to generelize it and will be happt to have your input .

0 intersections = when the 2 linear functions are parallel
infinite intersections = when the 2 functions are the same
and all the rest cases have 1 intersection

Is that true?

BTW I am trying to use \(\displaystyle to create nice presentation of my functions! And how do I create the infinite sign?


All the best,
Eli\)
 
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