Difference between revisions of "2013 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 8"

(See also)
m (Solution)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
Line <math>l_1</math> has the equation <math>y=3x/2-1/2</math> when rearranged. Substituting <math>1</math> for <math>y</math>,we find that line <math>l_2</math> will meet this line at point <math>(1,1)</math>, which is point B. We call <math>\overline{BC}</math> the base and the altitutde from A to the line connecting B and C, <math>y=-1</math>, the height. The altitude has length <math>|-2-1|=3</math>, and the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}=3</math>. Since <math>A={bh}/2</math>, <math>b=2</math>. Because <math>l_3</math> has positive slope, it will meet <math>l_2</math> to the right of <math>B</math>, and the point <math>2</math> to the right of <math>B</math> is <math>(3,1)</math>. <math>l_3</math> passes through <math>(-1,-2)</math> and <math>(3,1)</math>, and thus has slope <math>\frac{|1-(-2)|}{|3-(-1)|}=</math> <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) }\frac{3}{4}}</math>.
+
Line <math>l_1</math> has the equation <math>y=3x/2-1/2</math> when rearranged. Substituting <math>1</math> for <math>y</math>,we find that line <math>l_2</math> will meet this line at point <math>(1,1)</math>, which is point B. We call <math>\overline{BC}</math> the base and the altitude from A to the line connecting B and C, <math>y=-1</math>, the height. The altitude has length <math>|-2-1|=3</math>, and the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}=3</math>. Since <math>A={bh}/2</math>, <math>b=2</math>. Because <math>l_3</math> has positive slope, it will meet <math>l_2</math> to the right of <math>B</math>, and the point <math>2</math> to the right of <math>B</math> is <math>(3,1)</math>. <math>l_3</math> passes through <math>(-1,-2)</math> and <math>(3,1)</math>, and thus has slope <math>\frac{|1-(-2)|}{|3-(-1)|}=</math> <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) }\frac{3}{4}}</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 11:48, 18 February 2014

Problem

Line $l_1$ has equation $3x - 2y = 1$ and goes through $A = (-1, -2)$. Line $l_2$ has equation $y = 1$ and meets line $l_1$ at point $B$. Line $l_3$ has positive slope, goes through point $A$, and meets $l_2$ at point $C$. The area of $\triangle ABC$ is $3$. What is the slope of $l_3$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{2}{3} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{3}{4} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{4}{3} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac{3}{2}$

Solution

Line $l_1$ has the equation $y=3x/2-1/2$ when rearranged. Substituting $1$ for $y$,we find that line $l_2$ will meet this line at point $(1,1)$, which is point B. We call $\overline{BC}$ the base and the altitude from A to the line connecting B and C, $y=-1$, the height. The altitude has length $|-2-1|=3$, and the area of $\triangle{ABC}=3$. Since $A={bh}/2$, $b=2$. Because $l_3$ has positive slope, it will meet $l_2$ to the right of $B$, and the point $2$ to the right of $B$ is $(3,1)$. $l_3$ passes through $(-1,-2)$ and $(3,1)$, and thus has slope $\frac{|1-(-2)|}{|3-(-1)|}=$ $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }\frac{3}{4}}$.

See also

2013 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
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