Find m if the line y=mx−2 intersects y=x2 in just one point.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Really need help

anonymous · Answer

Will fan and medal

anonymous · Answer

Can you help me?

photon336 · Answer

I'm wondering if you can just set those two equal to each-other

anonymous · Answer

i dont know

mathmale · Answer

That would help!  However, I think you could get much more insight into this problem if you would graph y=x^2 and then, on the same set of axes, for values of m = to 1, 2, 3, -1, and so on, you also graph y=mx-2.  Why do this?   because you're told that the line intersects the curve ONLY ONCE, and it's easiest to determine an appropriate m value visuallyl.

anonymous · Answer

can you give me the answer

mathmale · Answer

No.  Sorry.  That's completely against OpenStudy's Code of Conduct (which I hope you've read).

This is a very interesting problem.  I've graphed both y=x^2 and y=mx-2 on my calculator for several different values of m, and am close to identifying a solution in that manner.

mathmale · Answer

Photon suggested earlier:  "I'm wondering if you can just set those two equal to each-other ."  Why not try that?  Set x^2 = y = y = mx-2 and solve for m.  Try it.

mathmale · Answer

Unfortunately, x^2=mx-2 has TWO variables in it, which means we don't have enuf info to solve for m.  So, back to the drawing board. 

You can estimate m by choosing various m values and graphing both x^2 and mx-2.  For approx. which m value will the line just touch the curve in ONE place only?

mathmale · Answer

I'm sorry, but I have to get off OpenStudy.
I still feel your best bet would be the graphical approach I've suggested, although I'm sure there are analytic (algebraic) approaches that will succeed.