Hi, I am in a pre-calculus course and am having a problem with the following:

a) graph the equation

I did not have a problem with this, I had a circle and a parabola with points (1,3) (-1,-3) (2,0) (-2,0) (3,5) and (-3,5).

The problem is part (b) of the question ask: Find all solutions of the system in part (a) algebraically. Express answers in decimal form, accurate to two decimal places.

I am having problems solving the math part.

y= x² - 4 substitute into 2nd equation x² + (x² - 4)² = 9

Now what? I know I need four answers as the circle cross my parabola at four points. Please help?

Thank you,
Patty

Ther are some errors in what you have done so far.

First (1,3) is not on the parabola, but (1,-3) is.

Also the line x² + x⁴ -8x² - 16 = 9 should read

This is a quadratic in x², (x²)² - 7x² + 7 = 0. It doesn't factor but you can use the general quadratic to solve for x². Since you are to give your answer is decimal form, convert the two values of x² to decimal form and then take the square root to find x. This will give you 4 values for x.