# Intersection of conics

By conic we understand a conic on the projective plane $\mathbb{P}_2=\mathbb{P}(V)$, where $V$ is $3$-dimensional. I'd like to ask how to find the number of points in the intersection of two given smooth conics $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ (given by $q_1,q_2\in S^2V^*$ respectively). So, we are to find the set of all $(x_0,x_1,x_2)\in V$ such that $q_1(x_0,x_1,x_2)=q_2(x_0,x_1,x_2)=0$. First, is this number necessarily finite? And second, how to describe such intersection of quadrics (i.e. 'conics' in $\mathbb{P}^n$) in higher dimensions? I'm sorry for the lack of my 'research', I'm really stuck on this problem.

• Search for "Bezout's theorem". Short answer for distinct smooth conics in the plane: the number is finite --- indeed, at most 4. – user64687 Jan 8 '14 at 13:04

And second, how to describe such intersection of quadrics (i.e. 'conics' in $\mathbb P^n$) in higher dimensions?
If you want to count them, then Bézout's Theorem, as mentioned in a comment, is indeed the way to go. Wikipedia includes a generalization to higher dimensoons. Applied to quadrics, you get the result that barring shared components, $n$ quadrics intersect in up to $2^n$ points. In exactly $2^n$ if you include complex points of intersection and take multiplicities into account.