1963 AHSME Problems/Problem 40

Problem 40

If $x$ is a number satisfying the equation $\sqrt[3]{x+9}-\sqrt[3]{x-9}=3$ , then $x^2$ is between:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 55\text{ and }65\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 65\text{ and }75\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 75\text{ and }85\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 85\text{ and }95\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 95\text{ and }105$

Solution

Let $a = \sqrt[3]{x + 9}$ and $b = \sqrt[3]{x - 9}$ . Cubing these equations, we get $a^3 = x + 9$ and $b^3 = x - 9$ , so $a^3 - b^3 = 18$ . The left-hand side factors as $(a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) = 18.$

However, from the given equation $\sqrt[3]{x + 9} - \sqrt[3]{x - 9} = 3$ , we get $a - b = 3$ . Then $3(a^2 + ab + b^2) = 18$ , so $a^2 + ab + b^2 = 18/3 = 6$ .

Squaring the equation $a - b = 3$ , we get $a^2 - 2ab + b^2 = 9$ . Subtracting this equation from the equation $a^2 + ab + b^2 = 6$ , we get $3ab = -3$ , so $ab = -1$ . But $a = \sqrt[3]{x + 9}$ and $b = \sqrt[3]{x - 9}$ , so $ab = \sqrt[3]{(x + 9)(x - 9)} = \sqrt[3]{x^2 - 81}$ , so $\sqrt[3]{x^2 - 81} = -1$ . Cubing both sides, we get $x^2 - 81 = -1$ , so $x^2 = 80$ . The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}}$ .

1963 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 39	Followed by Last Problem
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 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

Page

Toolbox

Search

1963 AHSME Problems/Problem 40

Problem 40

Solution

See Also