Difference between revisions of "1983 AHSME Problems/Problem 25"

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Problem:
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==Problem 25==
If 60^a=3 and 60^b=5, then 12^[(1-a-b)/2(1-b)] is
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If <math>60^a=3</math> and <math>60^b=5</math>, then <math>12^{(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}</math> is
  
(A):sqrt3  (B): 2     (C): sqrt5    (D): 3     (E): sqrt12
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<math>\textbf{(A)}\ \sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{5}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2\sqrt{3}\qquad</math>
  
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==Solution== 
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We have that <math>12=\frac{60}{5}</math>. We can substitute our value for 5, to get
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<cmath>12=\frac{60}{60^b}=60\cdot 60^{-b}=60^{1-b}.</cmath>
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Hence
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<cmath>12^{(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}=60^{(1-b)(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}=60^{(1-a-b)/2}.</cmath>
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Since <math>4=\frac{60}{3\cdot 5}</math>, we have
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<cmath>4=\frac{60}{60^a 60^b}=60^{1-a-b}.</cmath>
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Therefore, we have
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<cmath>60^{(1-a-b)/2}=4^{1/2}=\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 2}</cmath>
  
Solution:  Since 12 = 60/5, 12 = 60/(60^b) = 60^(1-b)
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==See Also==
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{{AHSME box|year=1983|num-b=24|num-a=26}}
  
So we can rewrite 12^[(1-a-b)/2(1-b)] as 60^[(1-b)(1-a-b)/2(1-b)]
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{{MAA Notice}}
 
 
this simplifies to 60^[(1-a-b)/2]
 
 
 
which can be rewritten as (60^(1-a-b))^(1/2)
 
 
 
60^(1-a-b) = 60^1/[(60^a)(60^b) = 60/(3*5) = 4
 
 
 
4^(1/2) = 2
 
 
 
Answer:B
 

Revision as of 14:37, 17 April 2021

Problem 25

If $60^a=3$ and $60^b=5$, then $12^{(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ \sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{5}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2\sqrt{3}\qquad$

Solution

We have that $12=\frac{60}{5}$. We can substitute our value for 5, to get \[12=\frac{60}{60^b}=60\cdot 60^{-b}=60^{1-b}.\] Hence \[12^{(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}=60^{(1-b)(1-a-b)/\left(2\left(1-b\right)\right)}=60^{(1-a-b)/2}.\] Since $4=\frac{60}{3\cdot 5}$, we have \[4=\frac{60}{60^a 60^b}=60^{1-a-b}.\] Therefore, we have \[60^{(1-a-b)/2}=4^{1/2}=\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 2}\]

See Also

1983 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 24
Followed by
Problem 26
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
All AHSME Problems and Solutions


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