Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 23"
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Hence <math>(a-4)^2 - k^2 = 16</math> and | Hence <math>(a-4)^2 - k^2 = 16</math> and | ||
<cmath>((a-4) - k)((a-4) + k) = 16.</cmath> | <cmath>((a-4) - k)((a-4) + k) = 16.</cmath> | ||
− | Let <math>(a-4) - k = u</math> and <math>(a-4) + k = v</math>; then, <math>a-4 = \dfrac{u+v}{2}</math> and so <math>a = \dfrac{u+v}{2} + 4</math>. Listing all possible <math>(u, v)</math> pairs (not counting transpositions because this does not affect <math>u + v</math>), <math>(2, 8), (4, 4), (-2, -8), (-4, -4)</math>, yields <math>a = 9, 8, -1, 0</math>. These <math>a</math> sum to <math>16</math>, so our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) }16}</math>. | + | Let <math>(a-4) - k = u</math> and <math>(a-4) + k = v</math>; then, <math>a-4 = \dfrac{u+v}{2}</math> and so <math>a = \dfrac{u+v}{2} + 4</math>. Listing all possible <math>(u, v)</math> pairs (not counting transpositions because this does not affect (<math>u + v</math>), <math>(2, 8), (4, 4), (-2, -8), (-4, -4)</math>, yields <math>a = 9, 8, -1, 0</math>. These <math>a</math> sum to <math>16</math>, so our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) }16}</math>. |
==Solution 2== | ==Solution 2== |
Revision as of 12:58, 8 February 2016
Contents
Problem
The zeroes of the function are integers .What is the sum of the possible values of a?
Solution 1
By Vieta's Formula, is the sum of the integral zeros of the function, and so
is integral.
Because the zeros are integral, the discriminant of the function, , is a perfect square, say
. Then adding 16 to both sides and completing the square yields
Hence
and
Let
and
; then,
and so
. Listing all possible
pairs (not counting transpositions because this does not affect (
),
, yields
. These
sum to
, so our answer is
.
Solution 2
Let and
be the integer zeroes of the quadratic.
Since the coefficent of the term is
, the quadratic can be written as
or
.
By comparing this with ,
and
.
Plugging the first equation in the second, . Rearranging gives
.
This can be factored as .
These factors can be: .
We want the number of distinct , and these factors gives
.
So the answer is .
See Also
2015 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 22 |
Followed by Problem 24 | |
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 10 Problems and Solutions |
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