Lesson 12: More Systems restart;

Here's a nice little application of resultants to a geometrical problem. We're given two concentric circles with radii LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEickYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg== and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEickYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg==. From a given point P at a distance LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= from the centre of the circles, we want to draw a line intersecting the circles at points LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiUUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg== and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiUUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg== so that the distances LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEjUFFGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJXRydWVGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1EnaXRhbGljRictRiM2JC1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjJGJy9GNlEnbm9ybWFsRidGPi8lL3N1YnNjcmlwdHNoaWZ0R1EiMEYnRj4= and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEjUFFGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJXRydWVGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1EnaXRhbGljRictRiM2JC1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjFGJy9GNlEnbm9ybWFsRidGPi8lL3N1YnNjcmlwdHNoaWZ0R1EiMEYnRj4= have a given ratio LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEid0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=. How should we do it? Here's a picture in the case where LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJyRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIxRicvRjtRJ25vcm1hbEYnRkMvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIj1GJ0ZDLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZOLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRk4vJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRk4vJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZOLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGTi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGTi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRLDAuMjc3Nzc3OGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRmduRj9GQ0YrRkM=, 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, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJkRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiPUYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZRLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnRj5GPkYrRj4=. I'll try for LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYnLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEid0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIj1GJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRj0vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGPS8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGPS8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRj0vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y9LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y9LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGTC1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjJGJ0Y5LUY2Ni1RIn5GJ0Y5RjtGPkZARkJGREZGRkgvRktRJjAuMGVtRicvRk5GV0Y5(but this line isn't the one that achieves that ratio). with(plots): with(plottools): display([ circle([0,0],1), circle([0,0],3), plot([[2,0],[-2.840,.968]],colour=black), plot([[2,0],[0,0],[-.825,.565],[0,0],[-2.840,.968]], colour=green), textplot([[0,-.2,O],[2,0.2,P],[-0.9,0.8,Q[1]], [-2.9,1.3,Q[2]]])], axes=none, scaling=constrained); A few things to notice about how I drew this picture: The circles were drawn with a command called circle in the plottools package. You tell it the coordinates of the centre of the circle (as a list [x,y]) and the radius. You could also give it a colour option. The default is black. The labels were printed with the textplot command, which is in the plots package. You give it a list consisting of x and y coordinates and the text you want it to print, or a list of such lists. I moved the coordinates slightly off the point I wanted to label, because I didn't want the label to be actually on the point. The text to print could be a string (enclosed in quotes), or a Maple expression. The display command is used to put all the pieces together in one plot. I gave the display command the option axes = none, because I didn't want axes interfering with the picture, and scaling = constrained, to make sure the circles look like circles. Actually, let's write a procedure that will produce the plot for any LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiUUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjFGJy9GNlEnbm9ybWFsRicvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0Y8 on the inner circle. We'll give it as input the angle 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 drawpicture:= proc(theta) uses plots, plottools; local x1,y1,yline,x2,y2,x,r; Press Ctrl-T to start a comment. It's ignored by Maple, but should help people understand the code. To go back to Maple input, press Ctrl-M. Another way to produce a comment, staying in the Maple input style, is to start the line with # # The coordinates of Q1 are x1 and y1. x1:= cos(theta); y1:= sin(theta); The equation of the line P Q1 in "point-slope" form is (y-0)/(x-2) = slope = (y1-0)/(x1-2) yline:= y1*(x-2)/(x1-2); Q2 is the intersection of this line with the circle x^2 + y^2 = 9 Its coordinates are x2 and y2. x2:= fsolve(x^2 + yline^2 = 9, x = -3 .. 0); y2:= eval(yline, x = x2); r is the ratio of distances P Q1 / P Q2 r := evalf(sqrt(((x2-2)^2 + y2^2)/((x1-2)^2 + y1^2))); Finally, draw the picture. display([ circle([0,0],1), circle([0,0],3), plot([[2,0],[x2,y2]],colour=black), plot([[2,0],[0,0],[x1,y1],[0,0],[x2,y2]], colour=green), textplot([[0,-.2,O],[2,0.2,P],[x1,y1+0.2,Q[1]], [x2,y2+0.2,Q[2]]])], axes=none, scaling=constrained, title=(ratio=r)); end proc; Note that the comments are not part of the Maple output from the procedure definition. drawpicture(3*Pi/4); Here's an animation. animate(drawpicture,[theta],theta=0..Pi); Now to translate the geometry into algebra. Let LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJmFscGhhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg== be the angle LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEkT1BRRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIxRicvRjZRJ25vcm1hbEYnRj4vJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0Y+, let 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 and 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. Then by the Law of Cosines, 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. Similarly 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. We want 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. Now the first two equations involve a trig function (so not a polynomial), but they are polynomial in terms of cos(alpha). So we define 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. P[1]:= r[1]^2 - (d^2 + s[1]^2 - 2*d*s[1]*a); P[2]:= r[2]^2 - (d^2 + (s[1]*w)^2 - 2*d*s[1]*w*a); These are polynomials in LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEic0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYlLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0YyRjUvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0Y+ and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=. They should both be 0 at the same LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEic0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYlLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0YyRjUvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0Y+ when LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is the cosine of the angle we're looking for. resultant(P[1],P[2],s[1]); This should be 0. S:=solve(%,a); It looks like two solutions, but not really: LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JS1JI21vR0YkNi1RKiZ1bWludXMwO0YnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGOi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0Y6LyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0Y6LyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGOi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRjovJSdhY2NlbnRHRjovJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjIyMjIyMjJlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZJLUYsNiVRImFGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJXRydWVGJy9GNlEnaXRhbGljRidGNUYrRjU= and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JS1JI21vR0YkNi1RKiZ1bWludXMwO0YnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGOi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0Y6LyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0Y6LyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGOi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRjovJSdhY2NlbnRHRjovJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjIyMjIyMjJlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZJLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUYsNiVRInNGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJXRydWVGJy9GNlEnaXRhbGljRictRiM2JC1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjFGJ0Y1RjUvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0Y1RitGNQ== give the same solution as LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEic0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg==. On the other hand, the angles LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJmFscGhhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg== and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JS1JI21vR0YkNi1RKiZ1bWludXMwO0YnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGOi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0Y6LyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0Y6LyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGOi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRjovJSdhY2NlbnRHRjovJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjIyMjIyMjJlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZJLUYsNiVRKCZhbHBoYTtGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dGOkY1RjVGK0Y1 both have the same cosine, which means you can reflect the picture across the x axis. Here is LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= in the case LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJyRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIxRicvRjtRJ25vcm1hbEYnRkMvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIj1GJ0ZDLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZOLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRk4vJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRk4vJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZOLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGTi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGTi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRLDAuMjc3Nzc3OGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRmduRj9GQ0YrRkM=, 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, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJkRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiPUYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZRLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnRj5GPkYrRj4=, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ3RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiPUYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZRLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnRj5GPkYrRj4=. a1:= eval(S[1],{r[1]=1,r[2]=3,d=2,w=2}); alpha1:= arccos(a1); To draw the picture we need the angle LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYoLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEnJiM5NTI7RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdub3JtYWxGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIn5GJ0YyLyUmZmVuY2VHRjEvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRjEvJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGMS8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGMS8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRjEvJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0YxLyUnYWNjZW50R0YxLyUnbHNwYWNlR1EmMC4wZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGSS1GNjYtUSI9RidGMkY5RjtGPUY/RkFGQ0ZFL0ZIUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnL0ZLRlBGNS1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSRQT1FGJy9GMFEldHJ1ZUYnL0YzUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYlLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMUYnRjJGWEZaLyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGMg==. Some trig (the law of sines) relates LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJmFscGhhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg== to LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJnRoZXRhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg==. 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 thetaeq:= sin(alpha1)/1 = sin(Pi-alpha1 - theta1)/2; t1:= solve(thetaeq,theta1); drawpicture(t1); Oops: wrong solution. solve(thetaeq, theta1,AllSolutions); Of course a multiple of LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjJGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRictSSNtb0dGJDYtUTEmSW52aXNpYmxlVGltZXM7RidGNS8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGPi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0Y+LyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0Y+LyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGPi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRj4vJSdhY2NlbnRHRj4vJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZNLUYsNiVRJSZwaTtGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dGPkY1RjVGK0Y1 won't make a difference. eval(%,_Z1=0); thetas:= eval(%,_B1=0), eval(%,_B1=1); drawpicture(thetas[2]); Here's a more "algebraic" way of getting LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJnRoZXRhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg== from LUkjbWlHNiMvSSttb2R1bGVuYW1lRzYiSSxUeXBlc2V0dGluZ0dJKF9zeXNsaWJHRic2JVEoJmFscGhhO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRic=: The line LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEjUFFGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJXRydWVGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1EnaXRhbGljRictSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIyRicvRjZRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPA== has equation eqline:= y = tan(alpha1)*(2-x); Where does this intersect the smaller circle? intersects1:= solve({eqline, x^2 + y^2 = 1}); Two solutions, of course. One is right. Where does it intersect the larger circle? intersects2:= solve({eqline, x^2 + y^2 = 9}); What are the distances to the point P? distances1:= seq(eval(sqrt((2-x)^2 + y^2), intersects1[i]), i = 1..2); distances2:= seq(eval(sqrt((2-x)^2 + y^2), intersects2[i]), i = 1..2); One of the distances2 must be 2 times one of the distances1. We really don't need Maple to tell us which, but let's see if it can do that. The command is can be used (sometimes) to tell if an equation is true. I'll put an if statement inside two for loops to test all the possible pairs. for i from 1 to 2 do for j from 1 to 2 do if is(distances2[j] = 2*distances1[i]) then print(i,j) end if end do end do: There's a slightly subtle point here. It wouldn't have worked if my conditional expression was just distances2[j] = 2*distances1[i]. This is because distances2[1] and 2*distances1[1] are not literally the same, they are just mathematically equivalent. distances2[1] = 2*distances1[1]; if distances2[1] = 2*distances2[1] then yes else no end if; if A = B ... would just test whether A and B are literally the same. The is command tries harder to test whether the two things really are equal. Even it is not perfect: testing whether two expressions are equivalent can be a difficult task. Anyway, we want the first point in intersects1 and the first in intersects2. theta:= eval(arctan(y/x),intersects1[1]); drawpicture(theta); Oops: still not right. The wrong angle with that tan. There is a two-parameter form of arctan that is better: LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSdhcmN0YW5GJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dRJmZhbHNlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ25vcm1hbEYnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEwJkFwcGx5RnVuY3Rpb247RidGNy8lJmZlbmNlR0Y2LyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0Y2LyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRjYvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRjYvJShsYXJnZW9wR0Y2LyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGNi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGNi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRk4tSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ5RicvRjVRJXRydWVGJy9GOFEnaXRhbGljRictRjs2LVEiLEYnRjdGPi9GQUZaRkJGREZGRkhGSkZML0ZQUSwwLjMzMzMzMzNlbUYnLUYsNiVRInhGJ0ZZRmVuRjdGN0Y3RitGNw== gives the angle from the positive LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEieEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= axis to the point LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkobWZlbmNlZEdGJDYmLUYjNiYtSSNtaUdGJDYlUSJ4RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiLEYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGNi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4zMzMzMzMzZW1GJy1GMTYlUSJ5RidGNEY3Rj5GPi8lJW9wZW5HUScmbHNxYjtGJy8lJmNsb3NlR1EnJnJzcWI7RidGPg==. theta:= eval(arctan(y, x), intersects1[1]); drawpicture(theta);

After such success with two polynomials in two variables, what about more polynomials in more variables, say three? Consider polynomials 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, 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, 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. We might try something like the following: 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. This is 0 for any LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ4RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiLEYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGNi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4zMzMzMzMzZW1GJy1GLDYlUSJ5RidGNEY3Rj5GK0Y+ such that, for some LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiekYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=, both 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 and 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 are 0. 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. This is 0 for any LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ4RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiLEYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGNi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4zMzMzMzMzZW1GJy1GLDYlUSJ5RidGNEY3Rj5GK0Y+ such that, for some LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiekYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=, both LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJwRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIxRicvRjtRJ25vcm1hbEYnRkMvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RMCZBcHBseUZ1bmN0aW9uO0YnRkMvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRk4vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGTi8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGTi8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRk4vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0ZOLyUnYWNjZW50R0ZOLyUnbHNwYWNlR1EmMC4wZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGZ24tSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiM2KC1GLDYlUSJ4RidGN0Y6LUZJNi1RIixGJ0ZDRkwvRlBGOUZRRlNGVUZXRllGZW4vRmluUSwwLjMzMzMzMzNlbUYnLUYsNiVRInlGJ0Y3RjpGYm8tRiw2JVEiekYnRjdGOkZDRkNGQ0YrRkM= and 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 are 0. Then solve the two-variable system {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, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2J0YrLUYjNiYtSSVtc3ViR0YkNiUtRiw2JVEicEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiNUYnL0Y9USdub3JtYWxGJ0ZFLyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRictSSNtb0dGJDYtUTAmQXBwbHlGdW5jdGlvbjtGJ0ZFLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZQLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRlAvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRlAvJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZQLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGUC8lJ2FjY2VudEdGUC8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRmluLUkobWZlbmNlZEdGJDYkLUYjNiYtRiw2JVEieEYnRjlGPC1GSzYtUSIsRidGRUZOL0ZSRjtGU0ZVRldGWUZlbkZnbi9GW29RLDAuMzMzMzMzM2VtRictRiw2JVEieUYnRjlGPEZFRkVGRS1GSzYtUSI9RidGRUZORlFGU0ZVRldGWUZlbi9GaG5RLDAuMjc3Nzc3OGVtRicvRltvRmFwLUZCNiRGSUZFRkVGK0ZF} as before. Finally, find z by using those values of x and y in the equations 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0, 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, 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 Unfortunately this doesn't always work. p1 := 1-z-y-y*z-y^2+3*x*z-x*y+7*x^2; p2 := 2-z+z^2+x*z-x*y; p3 := -1+2*z^2-y-y*z+y^2-x*z; p4 := resultant(p1, p2, z); p5 := resultant(p1, p3, z); S:= solve({p4,p5},{x,y}); Ignoring the complicated solution using RootOf, notice the two nice solutions 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 and 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. Do these lead to solutions of the original system? eval([p1,p2,p3],{x=1,y=2}); Clearly this won't work: z would have to be 0 for LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEicEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMkYnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg== to be 0, but that won't work in LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEicEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiM0YnL0Y2USdub3JtYWxGJ0Y+LyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPg==. eval([p1,p2,p3],{x=-1/5,y=-8/5}); We can use resultant to see if the last two have any roots in common. resultant(%[2],%[3],z); No they don't. What went wrong? 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 = 0 for those LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ4RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiLEYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGNi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4zMzMzMzMzZW1GJy1GLDYlUSJ5RidGNEY3Rj5GK0Y+ such that, for some LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiekYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=, both 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 and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJwRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIyRicvRjtRJ25vcm1hbEYnRkMvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RMCZBcHBseUZ1bmN0aW9uO0YnRkMvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRk4vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGTi8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGTi8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRk4vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0ZOLyUnYWNjZW50R0ZOLyUnbHNwYWNlR1EmMC4wZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGZ24tSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiM2KC1GLDYlUSJ4RidGN0Y6LUZJNi1RIixGJ0ZDRkwvRlBGOUZRRlNGVUZXRllGZW4vRmluUSwwLjMzMzMzMzNlbUYnLUYsNiVRInlGJ0Y3RjpGYm8tRiw2JVEiekYnRjdGOkZDRkNGQ0YrRkM= are 0. 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 = 0 for those LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJ4RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEiLEYnL0Y4USdub3JtYWxGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGNi8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZCLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZCLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQi8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkIvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkIvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4zMzMzMzMzZW1GJy1GLDYlUSJ5RidGNEY3Rj5GK0Y+ such that, for some LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiekYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=, both 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 and 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 are 0. The trouble is that the z that makes 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 = 0 might not be the same z that makes 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 = 0. In this particular example, with LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JkYrLUYjNiYtRiw2JVEieEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIj1GJy9GOlEnbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRkQvJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGRC8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGRC8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRkQvJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0ZELyUnYWNjZW50R0ZELyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGUy1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjFGJ0ZARkBGK0ZARitGQA== and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JkYrLUYjNiYtRiw2JVEieUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIj1GJy9GOlEnbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRkQvJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGRC8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGRC8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRkQvJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0ZELyUnYWNjZW50R0ZELyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGUy1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjJGJ0ZARkBGK0ZARitGQA==, for z = 0 we have 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 = 0, but 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, while for z = 1 we have 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 = 0 but 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. There are more advanced methods that can be used, e.g. Gr\303\266bner bases, but we won't be able to go into that. In any case, solve does know about those methods, and can be used. solve({p1=0, p2=0, p3=0}); evalf([allvalues(%)]); remove(has,%,I); It turns out this system of equations has no real solutions, just complex ones.

In preparation for introducing Newton's method for systems of equations in several variables, I want to show how Maple deals with vectors and matrices. Here's a 3-component column vector in Maple: C := < a, b, c >; Actually, I should say that's a Vector. There are two separate data structures in Maple, vector and Vector, and similarly there are both matrix and Matrix. The lower-case vector and matrix structures are from an old package called linalg, which is pretty much obsolete, but has been kept around for the sake of backwards compatibility (i.e. people still have programs that were written in older versions of Maple, and want them to still work). We'll only use the new-style structures. Here's a row Vector. In output it looks rather like a list, except that the entries are separated by spaces instead of commas. R := < a | b | c>; So within the "<" and ">", "," is used to separate items vertically and "|" to separate them horizontally. Here's a 3 x 3 Matrix. You can think of it as three column Vectors side by side. M := <<1,2,3>|<4,5,6>|<7,8,10>>; The same Matrix could have been entered by rows instead of by columns: <<1|4|7>,<2|5|8>,<3|6|10>>; You can add or subtract Vectors and Matrices of the same shape using + or -, as you might expect. <<a,b>|<c,d>> + <<1|2>,<3|4>>; <a,b> + <c|d>; I did say "the same shape". You can't add a column Vector and a row Vector, they have different shapes. You could convert from one to the other: this operation is called "transpose", and can be done with ^%T: <a,b>^%T; <a,b>^%T + <c|d>; You can multiply or divide Matrices and Vectors by scalars using * or /, as you might expect. 3*<a|b> + <c|d>/2; But the multiplication sign for Matrices and Vectors is . instead of *. Of course, what you multiply should be compatible: number of columns of the Matrix or Vector on the left must be equal to the number of rows of the one on the right. R . C; C . R; M . R; R . M; M . C; You can take an integer power of a square Matrix using ^. M^2; That extends to negative powers too if the Matrix is invertible. M^(-1); % . M; <<1,1>|<1,1>>^(-1); There are very big and capable LinearAlgebra and VectorCalculus packages that can do lots of things with Vectors and Matrices, but we won't need to go much beyond this very basic level. I'll need one command from the VectorCalculus package: Jacobian. Consider a column Vector V whose components are expressions depending on several variables. V := <f(x,y,z), g(x,y,z), h(x,y,z)>; The Jacobian of F is the Matrix of partial derivatives of the components of F with respect to each of the variables. Since this is the only member of the VectorCalculus package I'll want to use today, and I want to avoid some side-effects of VectorCalculus, I'll only take this one procedure from VectorCalculus. You can do that with an extra input to with. with(VectorCalculus, Jacobian); J := Jacobian(V,[x,y,z]); Notice that the rows of J correspond to the components of V, and the columns correspond to the variables. You could think of each row of J as the gradient vector of a component of V. It will be convenient for us to consider functions from Vectors to Vectors. You can define these like this: F := X -> <X[1] + X[2]*X[3], X[2] - X[1]^2, cos(X[3])>; F(<a,b,c>);

is arctan Matrix Vector <...> , ,, | for constructing Vectors and Matrices . for multiplying Vectors and Matrices ^%T LinearAlgebra package VectorCalculus package Jacobian (in VectorCalculus package) JSFH

LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYjLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRic=