Difference between revisions of "2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 15"
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*For <math>\cos (x+z) = 1 / 2</math>, <math>x + z = \frac{\pi}{3} +2\pi n, \frac{5\pi}{3} + 2\pi n</math>. | *For <math>\cos (x+z) = 1 / 2</math>, <math>x + z = \frac{\pi}{3} +2\pi n, \frac{5\pi}{3} + 2\pi n</math>. | ||
− | <!-- explanation needed-->The smallest possible value of <math>z</math> will be that of <math>\frac{5\pi}{3} - \frac{3\pi}{2} = \frac{\pi}{6} \Rightarrow A</math>. | + | <!-- explanation needed-->The smallest possible value of <math>z</math> will be that of <math>\frac{5\pi}{3} - \frac{3\pi}{2} = \frac{\pi}{6} \Rightarrow \mathrm{(A)}</math>. |
Alternative Solution: Since <math>cos(x) = 0</math>, we know that x must equal some multiple of 90. Let us assume x = 90. We want <math>cos(x+z) = 1/2</math>, and by using the property that <math>cos(x) = cos(180-x)</math>, we want x = 60 since <math>cos(60) = \frac{1}{2}</math>. This means that we have <math>x + z = 120</math>, and from this we see that z = 30, or in radians <math>\frac{\pi}{6}</math>. | Alternative Solution: Since <math>cos(x) = 0</math>, we know that x must equal some multiple of 90. Let us assume x = 90. We want <math>cos(x+z) = 1/2</math>, and by using the property that <math>cos(x) = cos(180-x)</math>, we want x = 60 since <math>cos(60) = \frac{1}{2}</math>. This means that we have <math>x + z = 120</math>, and from this we see that z = 30, or in radians <math>\frac{\pi}{6}</math>. |
Revision as of 22:16, 5 February 2016
Problem
Suppose and . What is the smallest possible positive value of ?
Solution
- For , x must be in the form of , where denotes any integer.
- For , .
The smallest possible value of will be that of .
Alternative Solution: Since , we know that x must equal some multiple of 90. Let us assume x = 90. We want , and by using the property that , we want x = 60 since . This means that we have , and from this we see that z = 30, or in radians .
See also
2006 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 14 |
Followed by Problem 16 |
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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