Finding the Points on the Circle
2. Infinite Solutions, Infinite Fun!
Now, here's the cool part: this equation doesn't just have one solution; it has an infinite number of them! Each point (x, y) that lies on the circle represents a solution. Imagine picking any spot on that circle, and you've got a pair of numbers (x and y coordinates) that, when plugged into the equation, will make it true.
Let's explore a few specific examples. What if x = 0? Then we have 02 + y2 = 36, which simplifies to y2 = 36. Taking the square root of both sides, we find that y can be either 6 or -6. So, (0, 6) and (0, -6) are two points on the circle — the very top and bottom, in fact!
Similarly, if y = 0, then x2 + 02 = 36, leading to x2 = 36, and x can be either 6 or -6. This gives us the points (6, 0) and (-6, 0), which are the points on the far right and left of the circle. See how neatly it all fits together?
Want to find another point? Let's try x = 3. Then we have 32 + y2 = 36, which is 9 + y2 = 36. Subtracting 9 from both sides gives us y2 = 27. Taking the square root, we get y = 27, or approximately 5.2. So, the points (3, 27) and (3, -27) also lie on the circle! You can continue this process to find as many points as your heart desires.