Difference between revisions of "2008 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 9"

(Solution 2)
(Solution 2)
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==Solution 2==
 
==Solution 2==
  
We know that for an equation <math>ax^2 + bx + c = 0</math>, the sum of the roots is <math>-b/a</math>. This means that the sum of the roots for <math>ax^2 - 2ax + b = 0</math> is <math>\frac{2a}{a}=2</math>. The average is the sum of the two roots divided by two, so the average is <math>\frac22 = 1 \Rightarrow \boxed{A}</math>.
+
We know that for an equation <math>ax^2 + bx + c = 0</math>, the sum of the roots is <math>\frac</math>{-b}{a}<math>. This means that the sum of the roots for </math>ax^2 - 2ax + b = 0<math> is </math>\frac{2a}{a}=2<math>. The average is the sum of the two roots divided by two, so the average is </math>\frac22 = 1 \Rightarrow \boxed{A}$.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2008|ab=B|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2008|ab=B|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 11:34, 7 June 2021

Problem

A quadratic equation $ax^2 - 2ax + b = 0$ has two real solutions. What is the average of these two solutions?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \frac ba\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac{2b}a\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ \sqrt{2b-a}$

Solution 1

Dividing both sides by $a$, we get $x^2 - 2x + b/a = 0$. By Vieta's formulas, the sum of the roots is $2$, therefore their average is $1\Rightarrow \boxed{A}$.

Solution 2

We know that for an equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$, the sum of the roots is $\frac$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg){-b}{a}$. This means that the sum of the roots for$ax^2 - 2ax + b = 0$is$\frac{2a}{a}=2$. The average is the sum of the two roots divided by two, so the average is$\frac22 = 1 \Rightarrow \boxed{A}$.

See also

2008 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
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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