Elimination of parameters



Elimination of homogeneous linear parameters

Associated curves - Example

Take in a plane two lines a and b with resp. equations
 
        / l x - m y = 0
        \ m x + l y = 5l                        (1)
The real numbers l and m are real parameters, not both zero. If we substitute l and m with r.l and r.m then the lines don't change.
We say : l and m are homogeneous parameters. For each choice of l and m, the lines are fixed. Therefore we say that the lines a and b are associated.
If l and m are changing, the associated lines are moving and the intersection point plots a curve c.
The curve c is the locus of all intersection points of the associated lines.

Equation of the locus c

 
        P(x,y) is a point of the curve c

<=>     P(x,y) is an intersection points of the associated lines

<=>     There is an value of l and m (not both zero) such that
                l x - m y = 0
                m x + l y = 5l

<=>     There is an value of l and m (not both zero) such that
                x l - y m = 0
          (y - 5) l + x m = 0
                                        (from theory about systems)
<=>             |  x     -y |
                |           |  = 0
                |y - 5    x |

<=>             x2  + y2  - 5 y = 0   (2)

The last equation (2) is the condition in order that the system (1) has a solution for l and m, different from the obvious solution.
The equation (2) contains neither l nor m.
We have eliminated l and m from the system (1).

The equation (2) is the equation of a circle. It is the locus of all intersection points of the associated lines.

Homogeneous parameters

To eliminate homogeneous parameters from a system :

Example 1

Eliminate l and m from
 
        2lx + (l+m)y = 0
        4mx + (l-m)y = 0
We consider the parameters as unknowns
 
        (2x+y) l + y m = 0
        y l + (4x-y) m = 0
the condition in order that the system has a solution different from the obvious one is
 
        | 2x+y    y |
        |           | = 0
        | y     4x-y|

<=>     ...

<=>     4 x2  - y2  + xy = 0

Elimination of non-homogeneous linear parameters

Associated Curves - Example

Take in a plane two curves a and b with resp. equations
 
        /  y = x2  + mx
        \  y = 2x + m                    (1)
The number m is a non-homogeneous parameter.
For each choice of m, the curves are fixed. Therefore we say that the curves a and b are associated.
If m is changing, the associated curves are moving and the intersection point plots a curve c.
The curve c is the locus of all intersection points of the associated curves.

Equation of locus c

 
        P(x,y) is a point of the curve c

<=>     P(x,y) is an intersection points of the associated curves

<=>     There is an value of m such that

                2
        /  y = x  + mx
        \  y = 2x + m

<=>     There is an value of m such that

        / mx = y - x2
        \ m  = y - 2x
                                (from theory about systems)
<=>     | 1     y-2x |
        |            | = 0
        | x   y - x2|


<=>     x2  - xy + y = 0                       (2)
The last equation (2) is the condition in order that the system (1) has a solution for m.
The equation (2) does not contain the parameter m.
We have eliminated m from the system (1).

The equation (2) is the equation of the locus of all intersection points of the associated curves.

Non-homogeneous parameters

To eliminate non-homogeneous parameters from a system :

Example 2

Eliminate x from
 
        3 x = a
        5b x = 2
Consider the parameter x as unknown. Calculate the condition in order that the system has a solution
 
        | 3     a |
        |5b     2 |   = 6 - 5ab = 0

Elimination of quadratic parameter

Example 3

Take the following equations with parameter m.
 
        (x - 3)2  + y2  = (5 - m)2

        (x + 3)2  + y2  = (5 + m)2
For each value of m we have two fixed circles, the associated curves. When m is a variable, the intersection points of the two circles, form a locus c.
If we consider m as unknown in previous system, the system takes the form
 
        a m2  + b m + c = 0

        a'm2  + b'm + c'= 0
The coefficients are functions of x and y.
P(x,y) is a point of the locus if and only if last system has a solution for m. In other words if and only if the two quadratic equations have a common root.

In the following theorem, we search for the condition for (a, b, c, a', b', c') such that the two quadratic equations have a common root.

Common root of two quadratic equations.

Theorem:
Consider the two quadratic equations
a m2 + b m + c = 0
a'm2 + b'm + c'= 0
with a and a' not zero, together with 3 determinants
 
        |b     c|          |a     c|         |a     b|
   A =  |       |    B = - |       |    C =  |       |
        |b'   c'|          |a'   c'|         |a'   b'|

The equations have a common root if and only if
A.C = B2.
The expression A.C = B2 is called the eliminant of Sylvester.

Proof:
We multiply the first equation with a', the second one with a, and we calculate the difference of these two results.
(ba' - a'b) m + (a'c - ac') = 0.
From this, the system of the two quadratic equations is equivalent with

/ (ba' - a'b) m + (a'c - ac') = 0.
\ a m2 + b m + c = 0

These equations have a common root if and only if the root of the first one, is a root of the second equation. The root of the first equation is
(a'c - a c') / (b'a - a b') = B/C .
The condition then is:

 
    a (B/C)2 + b (B/C) + c = 0
<=>
    a B2 + b B C + c C2 = 0
<=>
    a B2 = -C ( b B + c C)
<=>
    ...
<=>
    a B2 = a ( C A)  and since a is not 0
<=>
    A.C = B2

Quadratic elimination

If, in a system with two equations, the parameter m is quadratic, then the system can be written in the form
 
        a m2  + b m + c = 0

        a'm2  + b'm + c'= 0
The condition in order that the system has a solution for m, is A.C = B.B (see previous theorem).
We say that m is eliminated from the system.

Example 4

Eliminate m from the system
 
        (x - 3)2  + y2  = (5 - m)2
                                                (*)
        (x + 3)2  + y2  = (5 + m)2
Considering m as unknown, we write the system as
 
        - m2  + 10 m + (x2 - 6 x + y2 - 16) = 0

        - m2  - 10 m + (x2 + 6 x + y2 - 16) = 0
Then,


        |10     x2  - 6 x + y2  - 16 |
  A =   |                              | = 20 x2  + 20 y2  - 320
        |-10    x2  + 6 x + y2  - 16 |


  B = ...  = 12 x

  C = ... = 20
The eliminant of Sylvester is
 
        A.C = B.B

<=>     400 x2  + 400 y2  - 6400 = 144 x2

<=>     16 x2  + 25 y2  - 400 = 0
It is the condition such that the given system (*) has a common root for m.
It is the locus of all intersection points of the circles, given by the system (*).

An extensive example

Given :
 
f(x) =  x3  + p x2  + q x + r         (1)
a) What is the connection between p, q and r if you know that a root of f(x)=0 is the product of the two other roots.
b) Apply on a) to find the roots of x3 - x2 - 35 x - 49 = 0

A solution:
a)
Denote the roots of f(x)=0 with a,b and a.b .

 
Then f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-ab)

        = x3  - (a + b + a b) x2  + (a2  b + a b2  + ab) x - a2  b2
So we have:
        p = - (a + b + a b)             (2)
        q = a b (a + b + 1)             (3)
        r = -  a2  b2                 (4)
The connection between p, q and r can be found by eliminating a and b from the equations (2) (3) (4) .

Since these equations only contain (a+b) and a.b, we denote (a+b) = s and a.b = t.
Then we have to eliminate s and t from

 
        p = - (s+t)                     (5)
        q = t (s+1)                     (6)
        r = - t.t                       (7)
We calculate s from (5) and put the result in (6). Then we have to eliminate t from
 
     /  q = t (1 - p -t )
     \  r = - t.t
<=>
     /
     |  t2  + (p - 1) t + q = 0
     |
     |  t2              + r = 0
     \
Now we have two quadratic equations in t.
We can eliminate t with the help of Sylvester's eliminant.
 
        A = (p-1)r
        B = q-r
        C = -(p-1)

        A.C = B.B

<=>
        - (p - 1)2  r = (q - r)2
<=>

        (q - r)2  + (p - 1)2  r = 0   (10)
b)
 

In       x3  - x2  - 35 x - 49 = 0

p = -1; q = -35; r = -49. For these values (10) holds.
So, - a2 b2 = -49 => a.b = 7 or a.b = -7 But -7 is not a root. Thus x = 7 is a root. Dividing by (x - 7) we have x3 - x2 - 35 x - 49 = (x - 7)(x2 + 6 x + 7)
Now it is easy to find the three roots.

Elimination and trigonometry

Formula

Given: a system of the form
 
        / a = cos(t)
        \ b = sin(t)
To eliminate t we search for the condition in order that the given system has a solution for t. Conclusion : To eliminate t from
 
        / a = cos(t)
        \ b = sin(t)

we write

        a2  + b2  = 1

A simple example

Eliminate t from
 
        /  x cos(t) + 2 sin(t) = y
        \  x cos(t) + sin(t) = 1
First we calculate cos(t) and sin(t). We find
 
                 2 - y
        cos(t) = -----   and  sin(t) = y - 1
                   x
Now we write the condition
 

                   (2 - y)2
        (y - 1)2+ -------- = 1
                      x2
The parameter t is eliminated.


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