2024 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 13

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Problem

The graph of $y=e^{x+1}+e^{-x}-2$ has an axis of symmetry. What is the reflection of the point $(-1,\tfrac{1}{2})$ over this axis?

$\textbf{(A) }\left(-1,-\frac{3}{2}\right)\qquad\textbf{(B) }(-1,0)\qquad\textbf{(C) }\left(-1,\tfrac{1}{2}\right)\qquad\textbf{(D) }\left(0,\frac{1}{2}\right)\qquad\textbf{(E) }\left(3,\frac{1}{2}\right)$

Solution 1

The line of symmetry is probably of the form $x=a$ for some constant $a$. A vertical line of symmetry at $x=a$ for a function $f$ exists if and only if $f(a-b)=f(a+b)$; we substitute $a-b$ and $a+b$ into our given function and see that we must have

\[e^{a-b+1}+e^{-(a-b)}-2=e^{a+b+1}+e^{-(a+b)}-2\]

for all real $b$. Simplifying:

eab+1+e(ab)2=ea+b+1+e(a+b)2eab+1+eba=ea+b+1+eabeab+1eab=ea+b+1ebaeb(ea+1ea)=eb(ea+1ea).

If $e^{a+1}-e^{-a}\neq0$, then $e^{-b}=e^b$ for all real $b$; this is clearly impossible, so let $e^{a+1}-e^{-a}=0\implies a+1=-a\implies a=-\dfrac12$. Thus, our line of symmetry is $x=-\dfrac12$, and reflecting $\left(-1,\dfrac12\right)$ over this line gives $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }\left(0,\dfrac12\right)}.$

~Technodoggo

See also

2024 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 12
Followed by
Problem 14
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 12 Problems and Solutions

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