Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 13"

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<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 6\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 10\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 14\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 18\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 22</math>
 
<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 6\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 10\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 14\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 18\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 22</math>
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==Solution==
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We are trying to find the point where distance between the mouse and <math>(12, 10)</math> is minimized. This point is where the line that passes through <math>(12, 10)</math> and is perpendicular to <math>y=-5x+18</math> intersects <math>y=-5x+18</math>. By basic knowledge of perpendicular lines, this line is <math>y=\frac{x}{5}+\frac{38}{5}</math>. This line intersects <math>y=-5x+18</math> at <math>(2,8)</math>. So <math>a+b=\boxed{10}</math>. - MegaLucario1001
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 21:39, 9 October 2020

Problem

A piece of cheese is located at $(12,10)$ in a coordinate plane. A mouse is at $(4,-2)$ and is running up the line $y=-5x+18$. At the point $(a,b)$ the mouse starts getting farther from the cheese rather than closer to it. What is $a+b$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 6\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 10\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 14\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 18\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 22$

Solution

We are trying to find the point where distance between the mouse and $(12, 10)$ is minimized. This point is where the line that passes through $(12, 10)$ and is perpendicular to $y=-5x+18$ intersects $y=-5x+18$. By basic knowledge of perpendicular lines, this line is $y=\frac{x}{5}+\frac{38}{5}$. This line intersects $y=-5x+18$ at $(2,8)$. So $a+b=\boxed{10}$. - MegaLucario1001

See also

2007 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 12
Followed by
Problem 14
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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