A homogeneous equation of nth degree representsa)n straight lines pass...
A homogeneous equation of nth degree in x and y is a0xn + a1xn-1 + a2xn-2+ a3xn-3 .....+ an-1xyn-1+ anyn=0 and it represents at most n straight lines passing through the origin.
View all questions of this test
A homogeneous equation of nth degree representsa)n straight lines pass...
Understanding Homogeneous Equations of nth Degree
Homogeneous equations of the form \( f(x, y) = 0 \) where \( f \) is a polynomial of degree \( n \) have specific geometric interpretations, especially in the context of lines in the coordinate plane.
Characteristics of Homogeneous Equations:
- **Definition**: A homogeneous equation is one where every term is of the same degree. For instance, \( ax^n + by^n + cxy^{n-1} = 0 \) is a homogeneous equation of degree \( n \).
- **Lines through the Origin**: The solutions to these equations can be interpreted as curves or lines in a two-dimensional space. Since the equation is homogeneous, if \( (x, y) \) is a solution, then \( (kx, ky) \) is also a solution for any non-zero scalar \( k \). This property indicates that the solutions will radiate from the origin.
Reasoning for Option B:
- **At Most n Straight Lines**: A homogeneous equation of degree \( n \) can have at most \( n \) distinct solutions (or lines) that pass through the origin. This arises from the fact that the equation can be factored to yield at most \( n \) linear factors, each representing a line through the origin.
- **Example**: For a quadratic equation \( ax^2 + by^2 + cxy = 0 \), it can be shown that it can represent up to 2 lines through the origin.
Conclusion:
In summary, a homogeneous equation of nth degree represents at most n straight lines passing through the origin due to the nature of polynomial equations and their solutions in the coordinate plane. Thus, the correct answer is option 'B'.