\( 4 ( x ^ { 2 } - 2 x ) + ( y ^ { 2 } + 4 y ) = 8 \)
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The Deep Dive
To solve the equation \( 4 ( x ^ { 2 } - 2 x ) + ( y ^ { 2 } + 4 y ) = 8 \), we can start by simplifying it. Distribute the \( 4 \) in the first term to get \( 4x^2 - 8x + y^2 + 4y = 8 \). Rearranging gives us \( 4x^2 - 8x + y^2 + 4y - 8 = 0 \). Next, we can complete the square for the \( x \) and \( y \) terms. For \( x \), we take \( 4(x^2 - 2x) \) and complete the square to \( 4((x - 1)^2 - 1) = 4(x - 1)^2 - 4 \). For \( y \), \( y^2 + 4y \) can be rewritten as \((y + 2)^2 - 4\). Putting it all together gives us \( 4(x - 1)^2 - 4 + (y + 2)^2 - 4 = 0 \) or \( 4(x - 1)^2 + (y + 2)^2 = 8 \), which simplifies to \( (x - 1)^2 + \frac{(y + 2)^2}{4} = 1 \). This describes an ellipse centered at \( (1, -2) \). Now, if you're curious about the nature of this ellipse, it has a semi-major axis of \( 2 \) along the \( y \)-direction and a semi-minor axis of \( 1 \) along the \( x \)-direction. This means it stretches twice as far vertically than it does horizontally! And speaking of ellipses, did you know that they're not just beautiful shapes? They've been used in various real-world applications, from the orbits of planets to the design of certain musical instruments! Their unique geometry allows for interesting acoustic properties, making them a fun study in both math and physics.