Difference between revisions of "2012 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 13"

Revision as of 10:32, 19 May 2024

Problem

Two parabolas have equations $y= x^2 + ax +b$ and $y= x^2 + cx +d$ , where $a, b, c,$ and $d$ are integers, each chosen independently by rolling a fair six-sided die. What is the probability that the parabolas will have at least one point in common?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{25}{36}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{5}{6}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{31}{36}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 1$

Solutions

Solution 1

Set the two equations equal to each other: $x^2 + ax + b = x^2 + cx + d$ . Now remove the x squared and get $x$ 's on one side: $ax-cx=d-b$ . Now factor $x$ : $x(a-c)=d-b$ . If $a$ cannot equal $c$ , then there is always a solution, but if $a=c$ , a $1$ in $6$ chance, leaving a $1080$ out $1296$ , always having at least one point in common. And if $a=c$ , then the only way for that to work, is if $d=b$ , a $1$ in $36$ chance, however, this can occur $6$ ways, so a $1$ in $6$ chance of this happening. So adding one thirty sixth to $\frac{1080}{1296}$ , we get the simplified fraction of $\frac{31}{36}$ ; answer $\boxed{(D)}$ .

Solution 2

Proceed as above to obtain $x(a-c)=d-b$ . The probability that the parabolas have at least 1 point in common is 1 minus the probability that they do not intersect. The equation $x(a-c)=d-b$ has no solution if and only if $a=c$ and $d\neq b$ . The probability that $a=c$ is $\frac{1}{6}$ while the probability that $d\neq b$ is $\frac{5}{6}$ . Thus we have $1-\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)\left(\frac{5}{6}\right)=\frac{31}{36}$ for the probability that the parabolas intersect.

Solution 3

Clearly, $ax + b = cx + d$ . Imagine the two sides as lines - they will have no solutions when the two lines are parallel (eg. have the same gradient) which is when $a$ is not equal to $c$ . Also, if $b = d$ and $a = c$ , they're the same line so we must add one case. There are $36$ combinations of $a$ and $c$ , of which they are equal in $6$ - but we must subtract 1 as if $a=c$ but $b=d$ they still intersect and have solutions. So we subtract this to obtain $\frac{36}{36} - \frac{5}{36} = \frac{31}{36}$ .

~ youtube.com/indianmathguy

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Proceed as above to obtain <math>x(a-c)=d-b</math>. The probability that the parabolas have at least 1 point in common is 1 minus the probability that they do not intersect. The equation <math>x(a-c)=d-b</math> has no solution if and only if <math>a=c</math> and <math>d\neq b</math>. The probability that <math>a=c</math> is <math>\frac{1}{6}</math> while the probability that <math>d\neq b</math> is <math>\frac{5}{6}</math>. Thus we have <math>1-\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)\left(\frac{5}{6}\right)=\frac{31}{36}</math> for the probability that the parabolas intersect.
+===Solution 3===
+Clearly, <math>ax + b = cx + d</math>. Imagine the two sides as lines - they will have no solutions when the two lines are parallel (eg. have the same gradient) which is when <math>a</math> is not equal to <math>c</math>. Also, if <math>b = d</math> and <math>a = c</math>, they're the same line so we must add one case. There are <math>36</math> combinations of <math>a</math> and <math>c</math>, of which they are equal in <math>6</math> - but we must subtract 1 as if <math>a=c</math> but <math>b=d</math> they still intersect and have solutions. So we subtract this to obtain <math>\frac{36}{36} - \frac{5}{36} = \frac{31}{36}</math>.
+~ youtube.com/indianmathguy
 == See Also ==

2012 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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

Page

Toolbox

Search