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

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==Problem 25==
If <math>60^a=3</math> and <math>60^b=5</math>, then <math>12^[(1-a-b)/2(1-b)]</math> 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
  
 
<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>
 
<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>
  
Solution: Since <math>12 = 60/5</math>, <math>12 = 60/(60^b)</math>= <math>60^{(1-b)}</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>
  
So we can rewrite <math>12^{[(1-a-b)/2(1-b)]}</math> as <math>60^{[(1-b)(1-a-b)/2(1-b)]}</math>
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==See Also==
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{{AHSME box|year=1983|num-b=24|num-a=26}}
  
this simplifies to <math>60^{[(1-a-b)/2]}</math>
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{{MAA Notice}}
 
 
which can be rewritten as <math>(60^{(1-a-b)})^{(1/2)}</math>
 
 
 
<math>60^(1-a-b) = 60^1/[(60^a)(60^b) = 60/(3*5) = 4</math>
 
 
 
<math>4^{(1/2)} = 2</math>
 
 
 
Answer:<math>B</math>
 

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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