Difference between revisions of "1978 AHSME Problems/Problem 3"

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Simplifying, we get <math>(x-y)(y+x)</math>. Multiplying, we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)  }x^2-y^2}</math>
 
Simplifying, we get <math>(x-y)(y+x)</math>. Multiplying, we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)  }x^2-y^2}</math>
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~awin
 
~awin
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==See Also==
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{{AHSME box|year=1978|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 11:59, 13 February 2021

Problem 3

For all non-zero numbers $x$ and $y$ such that $x = 1/y$, $\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)\left(y+\frac{1}{y}\right)$ equals

$\textbf{(A) }2x^2\qquad \textbf{(B) }2y^2\qquad \textbf{(C) }x^2+y^2\qquad \textbf{(D) }x^2-y^2\qquad  \textbf{(E) }y^2-x^2$

Solution 1

Using substitution, we can substitute y into the equation in the first parentheses. Therefore, we'll get \[\left(x-\frac{1}{\frac{1}{y}}\right)\left(y+\frac{1}{y}\right)\]

Because $x = \frac{1}{y}$, we can also see that $y = \frac{1}{x}$. Using substitution again, we can substitute x into the second equation getting \[\left(x-\frac{1}{\frac{1}{y}}\right)\left(y+\frac{1}{\frac{1}{x}}\right)\]

Simplifying, we get $(x-y)(y+x)$. Multiplying, we get $\boxed{\textbf{(D)   }x^2-y^2}$

~awin

See Also

1978 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
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