Difference between revisions of "1981 AHSME Problems/Problem 18"

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==Solution:==
 
==Solution:==
  
The answer to this problem is the number of intersections between the graph of f(x) = sin x and f(x) = (1/100)x. We can do the right side of the coordinate plane first. Each cycle of the sine wave, consisting of 2π, will have 2 intersections (From the positive part of the sine wave) The line f(x) = (1/100)x will consist of 16 cycles plus a little bit extra for x from 1 to 100. However, the extra is not complete enough to have any intersection at all. Thus, the number of intersections is 2 x 16 = 32. Because of symmetry, we can multiply by two to account for the left side, and subtract one because of the origin. So the answer is 32 x 2 - 1 = <math> \textbf{(E)}\ 63.</math>
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The answer to this problem is the number of intersections between the graph of f(x) = \sin x<math></math> and f(x) = (1/100)x. We can do the right side of the coordinate plane first. Each cycle of the sine wave, consisting of 2π, will have 2 intersections (From the positive part of the sine wave) The line f(x) = (1/100)x will consist of 16 cycles plus a little bit extra for x from 1 to 100. However, the extra is not complete enough to have any intersection at all. Thus, the number of intersections is 2 x 16 = 32. Because of symmetry, we can multiply by two to account for the left side, and subtract one because of the origin. So the answer is 32 x 2 - 1 = <math> \textbf{(E)}\ 63.</math>
  
  
 
~Eric X
 
~Eric X

Revision as of 15:38, 27 July 2022

Problem:

The number of real solutions to the equation \[\dfrac{x}{100}=\sin x\] is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 61\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 62\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 63\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 64\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 65$

Solution:

The answer to this problem is the number of intersections between the graph of f(x) = \sin x$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) and f(x) = (1/100)x. We can do the right side of the coordinate plane first. Each cycle of the sine wave, consisting of 2π, will have 2 intersections (From the positive part of the sine wave) The line f(x) = (1/100)x will consist of 16 cycles plus a little bit extra for x from 1 to 100. However, the extra is not complete enough to have any intersection at all. Thus, the number of intersections is 2 x 16 = 32. Because of symmetry, we can multiply by two to account for the left side, and subtract one because of the origin. So the answer is 32 x 2 - 1 = $\textbf{(E)}\ 63.$


~Eric X