Question y-18-y

1.4 Systems of Two Linear Equations - Graphical solution of two lines
0:00

y = 18

y = - 3 x - 18 2 + 15

If the given equations are graphed in the xy-plane, at how many points do the graphs of the equations intersect?

A.

Exactly one

B.

Exactly two

C.

Infinitely many

D.

Zero

y = 18 y = - 3 x - 18 2 + 15 If the given

Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Systems of Two Linear Equations — Graphical solution of two lines. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice D is correct. A point x,y is a solution to a system of equations if it lies on the graphs of both equations in the xy-plane. In other words, a solution to a system of equations is a point x,y at which the graphs intersect. It’s given that the first equation is y = 18 . Substituting 18 for y in the second equation yields 18 = - 3 x - 18 2 + 15 . Subtracting 15 from each side of this equation yields 3 = - 3 x - 18 2 . Dividing each side of this equation by -3 yields -1 = x - 18 2 . Since the square of a real number is at least 0 , this equation can't have any real solutions. Therefore, the graphs of the equations intersect at zero points.

Alternate approach: The graph of the second equation is a parabola that opens downward and has a vertex at 18,15. Therefore, the maximum value of this parabola occurs when y = 15 . The graph of the first equation is a horizontal line at 18 on the y-axis, or y = 18 . Since 18 is greater than 15 , or the horizontal line is above the vertex of the parabola, the graphs of these equations intersect at zero points.

Choice A is incorrect. The graph of y = 15 , not y = 18 , and the graph of the second equation intersect at exactly one point.

Choice B is incorrect. The graph of any horizontal line such that the value of y is less than 15 , not greater than 15 , and the graph of the second equation intersect at exactly two points.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.