1967 AHSME Problems/Problem 19

Problem

The area of a rectangle remains unchanged when it is made $2 \frac{1}{2}$ inches longer and $\frac{2}{3}$ inch narrower, or when it is made $2 \frac{1}{2}$ inches shorter and $\frac{4}{3}$ inch wider. Its area, in square inches, is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 30\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{80}{3}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 24\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{45}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 20$

Solution

We are given $xy = (x+\frac{5}{2})(y-\frac{2}{3}) = (x - \frac{5}{2})(y + \frac{4}{3})$

FOILing each side gives:

$xy = xy - \frac{2}{3}x + \frac{5}{2}y - \frac{5}{3} = xy + \frac{4}{3}x - \frac{5}{2}y - \frac{10}{3}$

Taking the last two parts and moving everything to the left gives:

$-2x + 5y + \frac{5}{3} = 0$

Taking the first two parts and multiplying by $3$ gives $-2x + \frac{15}{2}y - 5 = 0$

Solving both equations for $-2x$ and setting them equal to each other gives $5y + \frac{5}{3} = \frac{15}{2}y - 5$ , which leads to $y = \frac{8}{3}$

Plugging that in to $-2x + 5y + \frac{5}{3} = 0$ gives $x = \frac{15}{2}$ .

The area of the rectangle is $xy = 20$ , or $\fbox{E}$ .

1967 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 18	Followed by Problem 20
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 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30
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1967 AHSME Problems/Problem 19

Problem

Solution

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