Let $x$ and $y$ be real numbers. If $x$ and $y$ satisfy
x^2 + y^2 = 4x - 8y + 17x - 5y + 25,
then find the largest possible value of $x.$ Give your answer in exact form using radicals, simplified as far as possible.
First of all, let's move almost all the variables to one side of the equation and combine all the like terms.
We get \(x^2 - 21x + y^2 + 13y = 25 \).
Now, we complete the square for both x and y on the right side of the equation.
\(x^2 - 21x + 441/4 + y^2 + 13y + 169/4 = 25 + 441/4 + 169/4 \)
\((x - 21/2)^2 + (y + 13/2)^2 = 355 / 2 \)
Wait! This looks like the equation for a circle!
Indeed, we have a circle at center \((21/2 , -13/2) \) with radius \(\sqrt{355 / 2}\).
The value of the largest possible x is just the radius added onto the x value of the center.
\( x = (21/2) + \sqrt{355 / 2}\)
Thanks! :)
First of all, let's move almost all the variables to one side of the equation and combine all the like terms.
We get \(x^2 - 21x + y^2 + 13y = 25 \).
Now, we complete the square for both x and y on the right side of the equation.
\(x^2 - 21x + 441/4 + y^2 + 13y + 169/4 = 25 + 441/4 + 169/4 \)
\((x - 21/2)^2 + (y + 13/2)^2 = 355 / 2 \)
Wait! This looks like the equation for a circle!
Indeed, we have a circle at center \((21/2 , -13/2) \) with radius \(\sqrt{355 / 2}\).
The value of the largest possible x is just the radius added onto the x value of the center.
\( x = (21/2) + \sqrt{355 / 2}\)
Thanks! :)