Difference between revisions of "1966 AHSME Problems/Problem 3"

(New page: ==Problem== If the arithmetic mean of two numbers is <math>6</math> and their geometric mean is <math>10</math>, then an equation with the given two numbers as roots is...)
 
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<cmath>\sqrt{\eta\zeta}=10\Rightarrow \eta\zeta=100</cmath>.
 
<cmath>\sqrt{\eta\zeta}=10\Rightarrow \eta\zeta=100</cmath>.
  
The [[monic]] [[quadratic]] with roots <math>\eta</math> and <math>\zeta</math> is <math>x^2-(\eta+\zeta)x+\eta\zeta</math>. Therefore, an equation with <math>\eta</math> and <math>\zeta</math> as roots is <math>x^2 - 12x + 100 = 0\Rightarrow \text{(D)}</math>
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The [[monic polynomial|monic]] [[quadratic]] with roots <math>\eta</math> and <math>\zeta</math> is <math>x^2-(\eta+\zeta)x+\eta\zeta</math>. Therefore, an equation with <math>\eta</math> and <math>\zeta</math> as roots is <math>x^2 - 12x + 100 = 0\Rightarrow \text{(D)}</math>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 10:29, 2 April 2008

Problem

If the arithmetic mean of two numbers is $6$ and their geometric mean is $10$, then an equation with the given two numbers as roots is:

$\text{(A)} \ x^2 + 12x + 100 = 0 ~~ \text{(B)} \ x^2 + 6x + 100 = 0 ~~ \text{(C)} \ x^2 - 12x - 10 = 0$ $\text{(D)} \ x^2 - 12x + 100 = 0 \qquad \text{(E)} \ x^2 - 6x + 100 = 0$

Solution

Let the numbers be $\eta$ and $\zeta$.

\[\dfrac{\eta+\zeta}{2}=6\Rightarrow \eta+\zeta=12\].

\[\sqrt{\eta\zeta}=10\Rightarrow \eta\zeta=100\].

The monic quadratic with roots $\eta$ and $\zeta$ is $x^2-(\eta+\zeta)x+\eta\zeta$. Therefore, an equation with $\eta$ and $\zeta$ as roots is $x^2 - 12x + 100 = 0\Rightarrow \text{(D)}$

See Also