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Difference between revisions of "1959 AHSME Problems/Problem 35"

(Created page with "== Problem 35== The symbol <math>\ge</math> means "greater than or equal to"; the symbol <math>\le</math> means "less than or equal to". In the equation <math>(x-m)^2-(x-n)^2=...")
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Revision as of 09:33, 14 June 2019

Problem 35

The symbol $\ge$ means "greater than or equal to"; the symbol $\le$ means "less than or equal to". In the equation $(x-m)^2-(x-n)^2=(m-n)^2; m$ is a fixed positive number, and $n$ is a fixed negative number. The set of values x satisfying the equation is: $\textbf{(A)}\ x\ge 0 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x\le n\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ x=0\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{the set of all real numbers}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Applying the difference of squares technique on this problem, we can see that \[(x-m)^2-(x-n)^2=((x-m)+(x-n)) \cdot ((x-m)-(x-n))\], so \[(x-m)^2-(x-n)^2=((x-m)+(x-n)) \cdot ((x-m)-(x-n))=(m-n)^2.\] Simplifying gives us\[(2x-m-n)\cdot(n-m)=(m-n)^2.\]Negating $n-m$ creates:\[-(2x-m-n)\cdot(m-n)=(m-n)^2.\]Dividing by $m-n$, \[-(2x-m-n)=m-n\] \[-2x+m+n=m-n\] \[-2x+n=-n\] \[-2x=-2n\] \[x=n\]Lastly, since n is a fixed negative number, x must also be a fixed negative number, so $x<0$. Since this answer is not $A, B, C,$ or $D$, the solution must be $(E)$ none of these.

See also

1959 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 34 		Followed by
Problem 36
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All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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