Pair of Straight Lines

The equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0. Represents a second degree equation where a, h, b doesnt variables simultaneously. Let a 0. Now, the above equation becomes a2 x2 + 2ax (hy + g) = aby2 2afy ac on completing the square on the left side, we get, a2 x2 + 2ax (hy + g) = y2 (h2 ab) + 2y (gh af) + g2 ac. i.e. (ax + hy + g) = + y2(h2ab)+2y(ghaf)g2ac

We cannot obtain x in terms of y, involving only terms of the first degree, unless the quantity under the radical sign be a perfect square. The condition for this is, (gh af)2 = (h2 ab) (g2 ac) i.e. g2h2 2afgh + a2f2 = g2h2 abg2 abg2 ach2 + a2bc cancelling and diving by a, we have the required condition abc + 2fgh af2 af2 bg2 ch2 = 0 Illustration: What is the point of intersection of two straight lines given by general equation ax 2+ 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0? Solution: The general solution is ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 (1)

Let (, ) be the point of intersection we consider line paralleled transformation. x = x + , From (1) we have a(x + )2 + 2h(x + ) (y + ) + b(y + )2 + 2g(x + ) + 2f(y + ) + c = 0 ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + a 2 + 2h + b2 + 2g + 2f + 2x(a + h + g) + 2y + 2y (h + b + f) = 0 ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2x(a + h + g) + 2g + 2y (h + b + f) = 0 y = y +

Which must be in the form ax'2 + 2hxy + by = 0 This cannot be possible unless a + h + g = 0 h + b + f = 0 Solving /hfbg = /hgaf = 1/abh2 = hfbg/abb2, = hgaf/abh2 Illustration: Represent lines y = 2x and y = 3x by a homogeneous equation of second degree Solution: (y 2x) (y 3x) = 0 Or 6x2 5xy + y2 = 0 Illustration: Represent lines parallel to y = 2x and y = 3x by a second degree equation Solution: (y 2x c1) (y 3x c2) (where c1 and c2 are constants) = 6x2 5xy + y2 + (3c1 + 2c2) x + ( c1 c2) y + c1 c2 = 0 Note: 1. Homogeneous part is same as for the equation of above illustration. Therefore, the homogeneous part of a general second degree equation determines the slope of the lines i.e. lines parallel to ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + c = 0 and through the origin are represented by the equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0

2. The equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2fy + c = 0 represents a pair of parallel straight lines if h/a = b/h = f/g or bg2 = af2 The distance between them is given by 2g2ac/a(a+b) or f2bc/b(a+b) Illustration: Does the second degree equation x2 + 3xy + 2y2 x 4y 6 = 0 represents a pair of lines. If yes, find their point of intersection. Solution: We observe that a = 1, h = 3/2, b = 2, g = 1/2, f = 2, c = 6 \ abc + 2fgh af2 bg2 ch2 = 12 + 3 4 1/2 + 27/2 = 0 Therefore the given second-degree equation represents a pair of lines, x 2 + 3xy + 2y2 x 4y 6 = (x + 2y + 2) (x + y 3).

Consider the equations formed by first two rows of i.e. ax + hy + g = 0 and hx + by + f = 0 i.e. x + 3/2 y 1/2 and 3/2 x + 2y 2 = 0 Solving these, we get the required point of intersection. i.e. 2x + 3y 1 = 0 3x 4y 4 = 0 Solving the above equation, we get x = 8, y = 5. Note:

(2x + 3y 1)(3x + 4y 4) x2 + 3xy + 2y2 x 4y 6.