Difference between revisions of "2017 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 9"

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==Problem 9==
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==Problem==
 
A circle has center <math>(-10, -4)</math> and has radius <math>13</math>. Another circle has center <math>(3, 9)</math> and radius <math>\sqrt{65}</math>. The line passing through the two points of intersection of the two circles has equation <math>x+y=c</math>. What is <math>c</math>?
 
A circle has center <math>(-10, -4)</math> and has radius <math>13</math>. Another circle has center <math>(3, 9)</math> and radius <math>\sqrt{65}</math>. The line passing through the two points of intersection of the two circles has equation <math>x+y=c</math>. What is <math>c</math>?
  
==Solution==
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<math>\textbf{(A)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4\sqrt{2}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{13}{2}</math>
The equations of the two circles are <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2=169</math> and <math>(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2=65</math>. Rearrange them to <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=0</math> and <math>(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65=0</math>, respectively. Their intersection points are where these two equations gain equality. The two points lie on the line with the equation <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65</math>. We can simplify this like the following. <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65 \rightarrow (x^2+20x+100)+(y^2+8y+16)-(x^2-6x+9)-(y^2-18y+81)=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y+26=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y=78 \rightarrow x+y=3</math>. Thus, <math>c = \boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 3}</math>.
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==Solution 1==
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The equations of the two circles are <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2=169</math> and <math>(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2=65</math>. Rearrange them to <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=0</math> and <math>(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65=0</math>, respectively. Their intersection points are where these two equations gain equality. The two points lie on the line with the equation <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65</math>. We can simplify this like the following. <math>(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65 \rightarrow (x^2+20x+100)+(y^2+8y+16)-(x^2-6x+9)-(y^2-18y+81)=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y+26=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y=78 \rightarrow x+y=3</math>. Thus, <math>c = \boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 3}</math>.
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Solution by TheUltimate123
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==Solution 2: Shortcut with right triangles==
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Note the specificity of the radii, <math>13</math> and <math>\sqrt{65}</math>, and that specificity is often deliberately added to simplify the solution to a problem.
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One may recognize <math>13</math> as the hypotenuse of the <math>\text{5-12-13}</math> right triangle and <math>\sqrt{65}</math> as the hypotenuse of the right triangle with legs <math>1</math> and <math>8</math>. We can suppose that the legs of these triangles connect the circles' centers to their intersection along the gridlines of the plane.
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If we suspect that one of the intersections lies <math>12</math> units to the right of and <math>5</math> units above the center of the first circle, we find the point <math>(-10 + 12,-4 + 5) = (2,1)</math>, which is in fact <math>1</math> unit to the left of and <math>8</math> units below the center of the second circle at <math>(3,9)</math>.
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Plugging <math>(2,1)</math> into <math>x + y</math> gives us <math>c = 2 + 1 = \boxed{\textbf{(A) } 3}</math>.
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A similar solution uses the other intersection point, <math>(-5,8)</math>.
  
Solution by TheUltimate123 (Eric Shen)
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2017|ab=B|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2017|ab=B|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
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[[Category:Introductory Geometry Problems]]

Latest revision as of 12:54, 15 February 2021

Problem

A circle has center $(-10, -4)$ and has radius $13$. Another circle has center $(3, 9)$ and radius $\sqrt{65}$. The line passing through the two points of intersection of the two circles has equation $x+y=c$. What is $c$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4\sqrt{2}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{13}{2}$

Solution 1

The equations of the two circles are $(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2=169$ and $(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2=65$. Rearrange them to $(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=0$ and $(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65=0$, respectively. Their intersection points are where these two equations gain equality. The two points lie on the line with the equation $(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65$. We can simplify this like the following. $(x+10)^2+(y+4)^2-169=(x-3)^2+(y-9)^2-65 \rightarrow (x^2+20x+100)+(y^2+8y+16)-(x^2-6x+9)-(y^2-18y+81)=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y+26=104 \rightarrow 26x+26y=78 \rightarrow x+y=3$. Thus, $c = \boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 3}$.

Solution by TheUltimate123

Solution 2: Shortcut with right triangles

Note the specificity of the radii, $13$ and $\sqrt{65}$, and that specificity is often deliberately added to simplify the solution to a problem.

One may recognize $13$ as the hypotenuse of the $\text{5-12-13}$ right triangle and $\sqrt{65}$ as the hypotenuse of the right triangle with legs $1$ and $8$. We can suppose that the legs of these triangles connect the circles' centers to their intersection along the gridlines of the plane.

If we suspect that one of the intersections lies $12$ units to the right of and $5$ units above the center of the first circle, we find the point $(-10 + 12,-4 + 5) = (2,1)$, which is in fact $1$ unit to the left of and $8$ units below the center of the second circle at $(3,9)$.

Plugging $(2,1)$ into $x + y$ gives us $c = 2 + 1 = \boxed{\textbf{(A) } 3}$.

A similar solution uses the other intersection point, $(-5,8)$.


See Also

2017 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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