Difference between revisions of "2000 AMC 12 Problems/Problem 12"
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== Solution 2 (Nonrigorous) == | == Solution 2 (Nonrigorous) == | ||
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If you know that to maximize your result you <math>\textit{usually}</math> have to make the numbers as close together as possible, (for example to maximize area for a polygon make it a square) then you can try to make <math>A,M</math> and <math>C</math> as close as possible. In this case, they would all be equal to <math>4</math>, so <math>AMC+AM+AC+MC=64+16+16+16=112</math>, giving you the answer of <math>\boxed{\text{E}}</math>. | If you know that to maximize your result you <math>\textit{usually}</math> have to make the numbers as close together as possible, (for example to maximize area for a polygon make it a square) then you can try to make <math>A,M</math> and <math>C</math> as close as possible. In this case, they would all be equal to <math>4</math>, so <math>AMC+AM+AC+MC=64+16+16+16=112</math>, giving you the answer of <math>\boxed{\text{E}}</math>. | ||
== Solution 3 == | == Solution 3 == | ||
+ | Assume <math>A</math>, <math>M</math>, and <math>C</math> are equal to <math>4</math>. Since the resulting value of <math>AMC+AM+AC+MC</math> will be <math>112</math> and this is the largest answer choice, our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }112}</math>. | ||
− | + | == Solution 4 (Semi-rigorous) == | |
+ | Given that <math>A</math>, <math>M</math>, and <math>C</math> are nonnegative integers, it should be intuitive that maximizing <math>AMC</math> maximizes <math>AM + MC + CA</math>. We thus only need to maximize <math>AMC</math>. By the [[AM-GM Inequality]], <cmath>\frac{A + M + C}{3} \geq \sqrt[3]{AMC},</cmath> with equality if and only if <math>A = M = C</math>. Note that the maximum of <math>AMC</math> occurs under the equality condition --- hence, all three variables are equal. The rest of the problem is smooth sailing; <math>A + M + C = 12</math> implies that <math>A = M = C = 4</math>, so <math>AMC + AM + MC + CA = 4^3 + 3*4^2 = 112.</math> The answer is thus <math>\boxed{\text{E}}</math>, as required. | ||
== Video Solution == | == Video Solution == |
Revision as of 11:37, 20 February 2022
Contents
[hide]Problem
Let and be nonnegative integers such that . What is the maximum value of ?
Solution 1
It is not hard to see that Since , we can rewrite this as So we wish to maximize Which is largest when all the factors are equal (consequence of AM-GM). Since , we set Which gives us so the answer is . I wish you understand this problem and can use it in other problems.
Solution 2 (Nonrigorous)
If you know that to maximize your result you have to make the numbers as close together as possible, (for example to maximize area for a polygon make it a square) then you can try to make and as close as possible. In this case, they would all be equal to , so , giving you the answer of .
Solution 3
Assume , , and are equal to . Since the resulting value of will be and this is the largest answer choice, our answer is .
Solution 4 (Semi-rigorous)
Given that , , and are nonnegative integers, it should be intuitive that maximizing maximizes . We thus only need to maximize . By the AM-GM Inequality, with equality if and only if . Note that the maximum of occurs under the equality condition --- hence, all three variables are equal. The rest of the problem is smooth sailing; implies that , so The answer is thus , as required.
Video Solution
See also
2000 AMC 12 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 11 |
Followed by Problem 13 |
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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