Skip to content

The line y=mx intersects with the parabola

y=x2+1

Find the possible values of m.

Use the table below to find your answer based on your solution set.

Solution setAnswer
α<m<βα2+β
αmβα3+β
m<α or m>βα+β2
mα or mβα+β3
Hint

The equation

x2+1=mx

has at least one solution.

Solution

The equation

x2+1=mxx2mx+1=0

has at least one solution, so

b24ac0(m)24(1)(1)0m240

Noting that the roots are m{2,2}, we make a sketch

parabola

We see that the solution is

m2orm2