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Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 12"

(Created page with "==Problem== Points <math>( \sqrt{\pi} , a)</math> and <math>( \sqrt{\pi} , b)</math> are distinct points on the graph of <math>y^2 + x^4 = 2x^2 y + 1</math>. What is <math>|a-b|...")
(No difference)

Revision as of 17:09, 4 February 2015

Problem

Points $( \sqrt{\pi} , a)$ and $( \sqrt{\pi} , b)$ are distinct points on the graph of $y^2 + x^4 = 2x^2 y + 1$. What is $|a-b|$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)} \ \frac{\pi}{2} \qquad\textbf{(C)} \ 2 \qquad\textbf{(D)} \ \sqrt{1+\pi} \qquad\textbf{(E)} \ 1 + \sqrt{\pi}$

Solution

Plug $\sqrt{\pi}$ in to the equation.

$y^2 + \sqrt{\pi}^4 = 2\sqrt{\pi}^2 y + 1$

$y^2 + \pi^2 = 2\pi y + 1$

$y^2 - 2\pi y + \pi^2 = 1$

$(y-\pi)^2 = 1$

$y-\pi = \pm 1$

$y = \pi + 1$

$y = \pi - 1$

There are only two solutions to the equation, so one of them is the value of $a$ and the other is $b$. The order does not matter because of the absolute value signs.

$| (\pi + 1) - (\pi - 1) | = 2$

The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C) }2}$

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