In the following system, is a positive integer. The system has exactly one real solution .
Which choice is equal to ?
When a system contains a circle and a line and is said to have exactly one real solution, immediately interpret the line as tangent to the circle. Use the center-to-line distance to determine any parameter, applying restrictions such as an integer condition afterward. Once the parameter is known, solve the resulting line-circle system; shifting the circle's center to the origin often makes the algebra cleaner.
Hints
Identify the graphs
The first equation is a circle. Find its center and radius.
Use the one-solution condition
A line and a circle have exactly one common point when the line is tangent to the circle. Set the distance from the circle's center to the line equal to the radius.
Find the tangent point
After determining the allowed integer value of , shift the coordinates using and . Then substitute the line equation into .
Desmos Guide
Verify the integer value of
Algebra is faster for finding , but Desmos can verify it. Enter and graph . The intersections show the values of for which the line is tangent to the circle. Choose the positive intersection that is an integer.
Graph the tangent point
Enter and . Click their single intersection to view the coordinates, then add the displayed - and -coordinates to verify the result.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the tangency condition to find
The circle has center and radius . Because the system has exactly one solution, the line must be tangent to the circle.
Rewrite the line as . The distance from the center to this line must equal the radius:
Thus,
The possible values are and . Since is a positive integer, .
Find the unique intersection point
Substitute into the line equation:
Let and . Then the circle becomes , and the line becomes .
Substitute into the circle equation:
So and .
Convert back to and
Because and ,
Therefore,