Sliding Line

Algebra Level 3

Consider the line y = 2 x + k y=-\sqrt{2}x+k , where k R k\in\mathbb{R} . For all values of k k , how many times are the x x and y y intercepts of the line both integers?

\infty 0 2 1

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1 solution

Fin Moorhouse
Dec 6, 2015

If k = 0 k=0 , then x = y = 0 x=y=0 and 0 Z 0\in\mathbb{Z} , so we have at least one solution. By substituting 0 for x x and y y , we see that the y-intercept is equal to k k , and the x-intercept is equal to k 2 \frac{k}{ \sqrt{2}} . For the x-intercept to be an integer, k must be a multiple of 2 \sqrt{2} . However, when k is a multiple of 2 \sqrt{2} , the y-intercept must be irrational, since 2 \sqrt{2} is irrational. Thus, there are no solutions when k 0 k\neq0 , so the answer is 1.

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