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Miscellaneous Exercise · Q2

Q.Find the equations of the lines, which cut-off intercepts on the axes whose sum and product are 11 and −6-6, respectively.

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The key idea is to use the intercept form of a line: xa+yb=1\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1, where aa and bb are the xx- and yy-intercepts. Given a+b=1a+b = 1 and ab=−6ab = -6, we solve for aa and bb to get two pairs: (3,−2)(3, -2) and (−2,3)(-2, 3). The required lines are 2x−3y=62x - 3y = 6 and 3x−2y=−63x - 2y = -6.

When a line cuts intercepts on the axes, the intercept form is the most natural tool. The intercepts are the points where the line meets the xx-axis and yy-axis — call them aa and bb. The line's equation is then xa+yb=1\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1, provided neither intercept is zero. The problem gives us the sum and product of these intercepts, so we can find aa and bb by solving a quadratic. Once we have the intercepts, we write the equations.

Let's work through it step by step.

  1. Set up the intercepts. Let the xx-intercept be aa and the yy-intercept be bb. The line is

xa+yb=1.\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1.

We are told:

a+b=1andab=−6.a + b = 1 \quad \text{and} \quad ab = -6.

  1. Form a quadratic equation. If two numbers have sum SS and product PP, they are the roots of t2−St+P=0t^2 - S t + P = 0. Here S=1S = 1 and P=−6P = -6, so

t2−t−6=0.t^2 - t - 6 = 0.

  1. Solve for aa and bb. Factor the quadratic:

t2−t−6=(t−3)(t+2)=0.t^2 - t - 6 = (t - 3)(t + 2) = 0.

So t=3t = 3 or t=−2t = -2.

This gives two possible ordered pairs for (a,b)(a, b):

  • If a=3a = 3, then b=−2b = -2 (since a+b=1a+b=1).
  • If a=−2a = -2, then b=3b = 3.
Watch out

A common mistake is to assume aa and bb are both positive. Here, the product is negative, so one intercept is positive and the other negative. That's perfectly fine — the line will cross one axis on the positive side and the other on the negative side.

  1. Write the equations. For (a,b)=(3,−2)(a, b) = (3, -2):

x3+y−2=1⇒x3−y2=1.\frac{x}{3} + \frac{y}{-2} = 1 \quad \Rightarrow \quad \frac{x}{3} - \frac{y}{2} = 1.

Multiply through by 6:

2x−3y=6.2x - 3y = 6.

For (a,b)=(−2,3)(a, b) = (-2, 3):

x−2+y3=1⇒−x2+y3=1.\frac{x}{-2} + \frac{y}{3} = 1 \quad \Rightarrow \quad -\frac{x}{2} + \frac{y}{3} = 1.

Multiply through by 6:

−3x+2y=6⇒3x−2y=−6.-3x + 2y = 6 \quad \Rightarrow \quad 3x - 2y = -6.

Tip

Notice that swapping aa and bb does not give the same line — it gives a different line. The two lines are symmetric in a sense: one has intercepts (3,−2)(3, -2) and the other (−2,3)(-2, 3). They are distinct.

  1. Check the conditions. For 2x−3y=62x - 3y = 6: xx-intercept is 33 (set y=0y=0), yy-intercept is −2-2 (set x=0x=0). Sum =1= 1, product =−6= -6. For 3x−2y=−63x - 2y = -6: xx-intercept is −2-2, yy-intercept is 33. Sum =1= 1, product =−6= -6. Both satisfy the given conditions.
✓Final answer

The required lines are 2x−3y=62x - 3y = 6 and 3x−2y=−63x - 2y = -6.

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