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Identifying Second Degree Equations: 7.1 The Eigenvalue Method
Identifying Second Degree Equations: 7.1 The Eigenvalue Method
(7.1)
a+b
p
p
a + b + (a b)2 + 4h2
(a b)2 + 4h2
, 2 =
.
2
2
130
1
adj P
d b
c
a
gives
Hence a = d, b = c and so
a c
b d
P =
a c
c
a
where a2 + c2 = 1. But then the point (a, c) lies on the unit circle, so
a = cos and c = sin , where is uniquely determined up to multiples of
2.
131
a
b
and Y =
c
, then
d
X Y = ac + bd.
The dot product has the following properties:
(i) X (Y + Z) = X Y + X Z;
(ii) X Y = Y X;
(iii) (tX) Y = t(X Y );
(iv) X X =
a2
b2
if X =
a
;
b
(v) X Y = X t Y .
The length of X is defined by
||X|| =
p
a2 + b2 = (X X)1/2 .
We see that ||X|| is the distance between the origin O = (0, 0) and the point
(a, b).
THEOREM 7.1.2 (Geometrical interpretation of the dot product)
Let A = (x1 , y1 ) and B =
(x2 ,y2 ) be points,
each
distinct from the origin
x1
x2
O = (0, 0). Then if X =
and Y =
, we have
y1
y2
X Y = OA OB cos ,
where is the angle between the rays OA and OB.
Proof. By the cosine law applied to triangle OAB, we have
AB 2 = OA2 + OB 2 2OA OB cos .
Now AB 2 = (x2 x1 )2 + (y2 y1 )2 , OA2 = x21 + y12 , OB 2 = x22 + y22 .
Substituting in equation 7.3 then gives
(x2 x1 )2 + (y2 y1 )2 = (x21 + y12 ) + (x22 + y22 ) 2OA OB cos ,
(7.3)
132
133
(7.4)
(7.5)
(7.6)
and
(7.7)
X1t X2 = 0.
x
y
=P
x1
y1
134
3
2
1
and X2 =
13
2
3
P AP =
16 0
0 3
135
4
2
x
-4
-2
2
-2
4
x
-4
3/13 2/13
P =
,
2/ 13 3/ 13
then as theorem 7.1.1 predicts, P is a rotation matrix and the transformation
x
x1
X=
= PY = P
y
y1
136
or more explicitly
x=
3x1 + 2y1
2x1 + 3y1
,y=
,
13
13
(7.8)
6
256
16x21 + 3y12 + x1 + y1 + 31 = 0.
13
13
Now complete the square in x1 and y1 :
16
2
16 x21 + x1 + 3 y12 + y1 + 31 = 0,
13
13
2
2
2
2
8
1
1
8
+ 3 y1 +
= 16
+3
31
16 x1 +
13
13
13
13
= 48.
(7.9)
Then if we perform a translation of axes to the new origin (x1 , y1 ) =
( 813 , 113 ):
1
8
x2 = x1 + , y2 = y1 + ,
13
13
equation 7.9 reduces to
16x22 + 3y22 = 48,
or
x22
y2
+ 2 = 1.
3
16
137
Figure 7.2:
x2 y 2
+ 2 = 1, 0 < b < a: an ellipse.
a2
b
This equation is now in one of the standard forms listed below as Figure 7.2
and is that of a whose centre is at (x2 , y2 ) = (0, 0) and whose axes of
symmetry lie along the x2 , y2 axes. In terms of the original x, y coordinates,
we find that the centre is (x, y) = (2, 1). Also Y = P t X, so equations 7.8
can be solved to give
x1 =
2x1 + 3y1
3x1 2y1
, y1 =
.
13
13
+ ,
=
13
13
or 3x 2y + 8 = 0. Similarly the x2 axis is given by 2x + 3y + 1 = 0.
This ellipse is sketched in Figure 7.1.
Figures 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 are a collection of standard second degree
equations: Figure 7.2 is an ellipse; Figures 7.3 are hyperbolas (in both these
b
examples, the asymptotes are the lines y = x); Figures 7.4 and 7.5
a
represent parabolas.
EXAMPLE 7.1.3 Sketch y 2 4x 10y 7 = 0.
138
x2 y 2
2 = 1;
a2
b
(ii)
x2 y 2
2 = 1, 0 < b, 0 < a.
a2
b
y
y
139
y
y
Then P = [X1 |X2 ] is a proper orthogonal matrix and under the rotation of
axes X = P Y , or
x1 + 2y1
x =
5
2x1 + y1
,
y =
5
140
12
8
x
4
x
-8
-4
12
-4
-8
5
2
5x1 + (2x1 + y1 ) 9 = 0
5
2
2
5(x1 x1 ) + 5y1 9 = 0
5
1 2
5(y1 2 5),
5(x1 ) = 10 5y1 =
5
or 5x22 = 15 y2 , where the x1 , y1 axes have been translated to x2 , y2 axes
using the transformation
1
x2 = x1 , y2 = y1 2 5.
5
Hence the vertex of the parabola is at (x2 , y2 ) = (0, 0), i.e. (x1 , y1 ) =
( 15 , 2 5), or (x, y) = ( 21
, 8 ). The axis of symmetry of the parabola is the
5 5
line x2 = 0, i.e. x1 = 1/ 5. Using the rotation equations in the form
x1 =
x 2y
141
y
4
y
x
-4
-2
-2
-4
y1 =
we have
x 2y
1
= ,
5
5
2x + y
,
5
or
x 2y = 1.
7.2
A classification algorithm
There are several possible degenerate cases that can arise from the general
second degree equation. For example x2 + y 2 = 0 represents the point (0, 0);
x2 + y 2 = 1 defines the empty set, as does x2 = 1 or y 2 = 1; x2 = 0
defines the line x = 0; (x + y)2 = 0 defines the line x + y = 0; x2 y 2 = 0
defines the lines x y = 0, x + y = 0; x2 = 1 defines the parallel lines
x = 1; (x + y)2 = 1 likewise defines two parallel lines x + y = 1.
We state without proof a complete classification
1
This classification forms the basis of a computer program which was used to produce
the diagrams in this chapter. I am grateful to Peter Adams for his programming assistance.
142
that can possibly arise for the general second degree equation
ax2 + 2hxy + by 2 + 2gx + 2f y + c = 0.
(7.10)
CASE 1. = 0.
g h
f b
=
,
C
a g
h f
=
C
(7.11)
y = y1 + .
y
h C
=
if b 6= 0,
x
b
a
y
= , if b = 0.
x=
and
x
2h
(1.2) C = 0.
(a) h = 0.
(i) a = g = 0.
(A) A > 0: Empty set.
(B) A = 0: Single line y = f /b.
143
f A
y=
b
(ii) b = f = 0.
(A) B > 0: Empty set.
(B) B = 0: Single line x = g/a.
(C) B < 0: Two parallel lines
g B
x=
a
(b) h 6= 0.
B.
CASE 2. 6= 0.
(2.1) C 6= 0. Translate axes to the new origin (, ), where and are
given by equations 7.11:
x = x1 + ,
y = y1 + .
.
C
g 2 +f 2 ac
.
a
(7.12)
C .
144
Rotate the (x1 , y1 ) axes with the new positive x2 axis in the direction
of
[(b a + R)/2, h],
p
where R = (a b)2 + 4h2 .
1 x22 + 2 y22 =
.
C
(7.13)
where
1 = (a + b R)/2, 2 = (a + b + R)/2,
Here 1 2 = C.
(a) C < 0: Hyperbola.
Here 2 > 0 > 1 and equation 7.13 becomes
x22 y22
2 =
,
2
u
v
||
where
u=
||
,v=
C1
||
.
C2
,v=
.
u=
C1
C2
(2.1) C = 0.
(a) h = 0.
(i) a = 0: Then b 6= 0 and g 6= 0. Parabola with vertex
A
f
,
.
2gb
b
145
2g
x1 .
b
2f
y1 .
a
ga + bf
.
a+b
2st
y2 ,
a2 + h2
(7.14)
146
Solution. Here
1
2
0
2
1
3
= 2 1
0
3 8
= 0.
(7.15)
2 8
(x, y) = (, ) = ( , ).
3 3
EXAMPLE 7.2.2 Identify the curve
x2 + 2xy + y 2 + +2x + 2y + 1 = 0.
Solution. Here
1 1 1
= 1 1 1
1 1 1
(7.16)
= 0.
147
7.3. PROBLEMS
7.3
PROBLEMS
1
(iv) hyperbola, centre ( 10
,
11x 3y 1 = 0.]
7
10 ),
asymptotes 7x + 9y + 7 = 0 and
148