Solution

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_63.gif]

First, find the point of intersection (Q):

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_64.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_65.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_66.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_67.gif]

We know point P by inspection:

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_68.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_69.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_70.gif]

So, the equation for the line is:

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_71.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_72.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_73.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_74.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_75.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_76.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_77.gif]

This has an extra set of curly brackets (and that will matter later), but we can fix that by using Flatten:

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_78.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_79.gif]

So, now for the grand finale...  As [Graphics:../Images/index_gr_80.gif],

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_81.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_82.gif]

I have to admit that this didn't fit in with my initial guess about what would happen (why 4?).  So, to help visualize this, I set up an animation:

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_83.gif]

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_89.gif]

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_90.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_91.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_92.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_93.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_94.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_95.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_96.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_97.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_98.gif]
[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_99.gif]

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_100.gif]

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_101.gif]

The errors are due to round-off induced division by 0 (i.e., not really a problem).  However, this animation looks lousy.  Even after explicitly giving a PlotRange (usually this fixes the "jumpiness" here), it still jumps around all over the place.  (I consider this a bug in Mathematica; it isn't actually doing what I asked it to.)  However, you can fix this by using the command ShowAnimation (this is why I named the above animation):

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_102.gif]

[Graphics:../Images/index_gr_109.gif]


Converted by Mathematica      April 26, 2002