\documenttype{article} \title{Math 587 Assignment 2} \author{John Doe} \date{March 3, 2009} \begin{document} \begin{enumerate} \item At what point does the line $2 x - y = 3$ intersect the line $x + 2y = -1$? \emph{Solution.} The point of intersection may be obtained by solving the two equations simultaneously. For this multiply the first equation by $2$ and add that to the second equation obtaining the equation \[ 5 x = 5 \ . \] Thus, $x = 1$, and, using either of the two original equations, one finds $y = -1$. The required point is $(1, -1)$. \item Find all solutions of the quadratic equation $x^2 - x - 12 = 0$. \emph{Solution.} The well known formula for solution of the quadratic equation $ax^2 + b x + c = 0$ is \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \ . \] In this case one finds \[ x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 -4(1)(-12)}}{2} = \frac{1 \pm 7}{2} = 4 \ \mbox{or} \ -3 \ .\] \end{enumerate} \end{document}