1992 AHSME Problems/Problem 16

Problem

If $\frac{y}{x-z}=\frac{x+y}{z}=\frac{x}{y}$ for three positive numbers $x,y$ and $z$ , all different, then $\frac{x}{y}=$

$\text{(A) } \frac{1}{2}\quad \text{(B) } \frac{3}{5}\quad \text{(C) } \frac{2}{3}\quad \text{(D) } \frac{5}{3}\quad \text{(E) } 2$

Solution 1

$\fbox{E}$ We have $\frac{x+y}{z} = \frac{x}{y} \implies xy+y^2=xz$ and $\frac{y}{x-z} = \frac{x}{y} \implies y^2=x^2-xz \implies x^2-y^2=xz$ . Equating the two expressions for $xz$ gives $xy+y^2=x^2-y^2 \implies x^2-xy-2y^2=0 \implies (x+y)(x-2y)=0$ , so as $x+y$ cannot be $0$ for positive $x$ and $y$ , we must have $x-2y=0 \implies x=2y \implies \frac{x}{y}=2$ .

Solution 2

We cross multiply the first and third fractions and the second and third fractions, respectively, for $x(x-z)=y^2$ $y(x+y)=xz$ Notice how the first equation can be expanded and rearranged to contain an $(x+y)$ term. $x^2-xz=y^2$ $x^2-y^2=xz$ $(x+y)(x-y)=xz$ We can divide this by the second equation to get $\frac{(x+y)(x-y)}{y(x+y)}=\frac{xz}{xz}$ $\frac{x-y}{y}=1$ $\frac{x}{y}-1=1$ $\frac{x}{y}=\boxed{2}$

1992 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 15	Followed by Problem 17
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1992 AHSME Problems/Problem 16

Contents

Problem

Solution 1

Solution 2

See also