The picture below illustrates a special type of conic section called a hyperbola. Which of the following offers the best description of how a
hyperbola is formed?
A. The plane does not pass through the vertex and intersects both
nappes of a right circular cone.
O B. The plane passes through the vertex and intersects only one
nappe of a right circular cone.
O C. The plane does not pass through the vertex and intersects only
one nappe of a right circular cone.
O D. The plane passes through the vertex and intersects both nappes
of a right circular cone.

Since we want to solve for the variable x, we want to isolate x

a²x + (a - 1) = (a + 1)x ⇒ Distribute x to (a+1). Also, remove parentheses

a²x + a - 1 = ax + x ⇒ Subtract a from both sides

a²x - 1 = ax + x - a ⇒ Add 1 to both sides

a²x = ax + x - a + 1 ⇒ Subtract (ax + x) from both sides

a²x - (ax + x)= ax + x - a + 1 - (ax+x) ⇒ Simplify. Remember that multiplying positive by negative = negative

a²x - ax - x = ax + x - a + 1 - ax - x ⇒ Simplify

a²x - ax - x = -a + 1 ⇒ Factor out the x from a²x - ax - x

x(a² - a - 1) = -a + 1 ⇒ Divide both sides by (a² - a - 1)

x = (-a + 1) / (a² - a - 1)

However, we need to make sure that the denominator does not equal 0. Therefore, you set the denominator = 0 (just use the quadratic formula for this), and it gives that the denominator =0 when a = (1+√5)/2 AND (1-√5)/2

Therefore, the final answer is

x = (-a + 1) / (a² - a - 1) given that a ≠ (1+√5)/2, a ≠ (1-√5)/2