There are $4$ distinct parabolas, $5$ distinct circles and $3$ distinct lines in the $x-y$ plane. Find the maximum possible value of the number of their points of intersection.
My Attempt at the Question:
I first to try and figure out the maximum number of points of intersection. For that I figured that parabola and circle intersect at max. $4$ points. And straight line will intersect the circle and parabola at $4$ distinct points. But this lead me nowhere.
Best Answer
First we find the kinds of intersection that take place b/w the lines, circles and parabolas, which are as follows:-
Now, lets count the maximum number of point of intersection in each of the above cases and consequently count the maximum number of intersections that cantake place given that there are $4$ distinct parabolas, $5$ distinct circles and $3$ distinct lines:-
CASE 1:- Intersection of two parabolas
As we can see in the above image there are maximum $4$ possible points of intersection for two distinct parabolas. Since there are $4$ distinct parabolas hence there are maximum $4\cdot\binom{4}{2}$ maximum distinct point of intersections.
$\therefore$ Maximum number of points of intersection of $4$ distinct parabola$=4\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{2}=24$
CASE 2:- Intersection of parabola with a circle
As can be seen in the above image there are at max. $4$ distinct points of intersection of a parabola and a circle.
Ways to select a parabola and a circle$= \displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{5}{1}$
$\therefore$ Max. no. of distinct points of intersection$=4\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{5}{1}=80$
CASE 3:- Intersection of a parabola with a line
As can be seen in the above image there can be max. $2$ distinct points of intersection b/w a line and a parabola.
Ways to select a parabola and a line $=\displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{3}{1}$
$\therefore$ Max. no. of distinct points of intersection$=2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{3}{1}=24$
CASE 4:- Intersection of two circles
As can be seen in the above image there can be max. $2$ distinct points of intersection b/w two circles.
Ways to select two circles $=\displaystyle\binom{5}{2}$
$\therefore$ Max. no. of distinct points of intersection$=2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{5}{2}=20$
CASE 5:- Intersection of a circle with a line
As can be seen in the above image there can be max. $2$ distinct points of intersection b/w a line and a circle.
Ways to select a circle and a line $=\displaystyle\binom{5}{1}\cdot\binom{3}{1}$
$\therefore$ Max. no. of distinct points of intersection$=2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{5}{1}\binom{3}{1}=30$
CASE 6:- Intersection of two lines
As can be seen in the above image there can be max. $1$ distinct points of intersection b/w two lines.
Ways to select two lines $=\displaystyle\binom{3}{2}$
$\therefore$ Max. no. of distinct points of intersection$=1\cdot\displaystyle\binom{3}{2}=3$
Since all the above cases are disjoint, and when anyone of them happens an intersection takes place, hence the total no of intersections are the sum of all the disjoint events.
Hence, total number of points of intersection is given by
$$4\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{2}+ 4\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{5}{1} + 2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{4}{1}\cdot\binom{3}{1} + 2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{5}{2} + 2\cdot\displaystyle\binom{5}{1}\binom{3}{1} + 1\cdot\displaystyle\binom{3}{2}\\ =24+80+24+20+30+3=\boxed{181}$$