Difference between revisions of "2023 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 6"

(problem 6)
(First solution on an AMC problem!)
Line 5: Line 5:
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
 +
Let <math>A(6+m,2+n)</math> and <math>B(6-m,2-n)</math>, since (6,2) is their midpoint. Thus, we must find 2m. We find two equations due to <math>A,B</math> both lying on the function <math>y=\log_{2}x</math>. The two equations are then <math>\log_{2}(6+m)=2+n</math> and <math>\log_{2}(6-m)=2-n</math>. Now add these two equations to obtain <math>log_{2}(6+m)+log_{2}(6-m)=4</math>. By logarithm rules, we get <math>log_{2}((6+m)(6-m))=4</math>. By taking 2 to the power of both sides (what's the word for this?) we obtain <math>(6+m)(6-m)=16</math>. We then get <cmath>36-m^2=16 \rightarrow m^2=20 \rightarrow m=2\sqrt{5}</cmath>. Since we're looking for <math>2m</math>, we obtain <math>2*2\sqrt{5}=\boxed{\textbf{(D) }4\sqrt{5}}</math>
  
 +
~amcrunner (yay, my first AMC solution)
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2023|ab=A|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2023|ab=A|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 23:05, 9 November 2023

Problem

Points $A$ and $B$ lie on the graph of $y=\log_{2}x$. The midpoint of $\overline{AB}$ is $(6, 2)$. What is the positive difference between the $x$-coordinates of $A$ and $B$?

$\textbf{(A)}~2\sqrt{11}\qquad\textbf{(B)}~4\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}~8\qquad\textbf{(D)}~4\sqrt{5}\qquad\textbf{(E)}~9$

Solution

Let $A(6+m,2+n)$ and $B(6-m,2-n)$, since (6,2) is their midpoint. Thus, we must find 2m. We find two equations due to $A,B$ both lying on the function $y=\log_{2}x$. The two equations are then $\log_{2}(6+m)=2+n$ and $\log_{2}(6-m)=2-n$. Now add these two equations to obtain $log_{2}(6+m)+log_{2}(6-m)=4$. By logarithm rules, we get $log_{2}((6+m)(6-m))=4$. By taking 2 to the power of both sides (what's the word for this?) we obtain $(6+m)(6-m)=16$. We then get \[36-m^2=16 \rightarrow m^2=20 \rightarrow m=2\sqrt{5}\]. Since we're looking for $2m$, we obtain $2*2\sqrt{5}=\boxed{\textbf{(D) }4\sqrt{5}}$

~amcrunner (yay, my first AMC solution)

See Also

2023 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 5
Followed by
Problem 7
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

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png