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Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 23"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
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[[Square]] <math>ABCD</math> has area <math>36,</math> and <math>\overline{AB}</math> is [[parallel]] to the [[x-axis]]. Vertices <math>A,</math> <math>B</math>, and <math>C</math> are on the graphs of <math>y = \log_{a}x,</math> <math>y = 2\log_{a}x,</math> and <math>y = 3\log_{a}x,</math> respectively. What is <math>a?</math>
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Square <math>ABCD</math> has area <math>36,</math> and <math>\overline{AB}</math> is [[parallel]] to the [[x-axis]]. Vertices <math>A,</math> <math>B</math>, and <math>C</math> are on the graphs of <math>y = \log_{a}x,</math> <math>y = 2\log_{a}x,</math> and <math>y = 3\log_{a}x,</math> respectively. What is <math>a?</math>
 
 
 
<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ \sqrt [6]{3}\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \sqrt {3}\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \sqrt [3]{6}\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ \sqrt {6}\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 6</math>
 
<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ \sqrt [6]{3}\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \sqrt {3}\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \sqrt [3]{6}\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ \sqrt {6}\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 6</math>
  
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== Solution ==
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== Solution 1==
 
Let <math>x</math> be the x-coordinate of <math>B</math> and <math>C</math>, and <math>x_2</math> be the x-coordinate of <math>A</math> and <math>y</math> be the y-coordinate of <math>A</math> and <math>B</math>. Then <math>2\log_ax= y \Longrightarrow a^{y/2} = x</math> and <math>\log_ax_2 = y \Longrightarrow x_2 = a^y = \left(a^{y/2}\right)^2 = x^2</math>. Since the distance between <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> is <math>6</math>, we have <math>x^2 - x - 6 = 0</math>, yielding <math>x = -2, 3</math>.
 
Let <math>x</math> be the x-coordinate of <math>B</math> and <math>C</math>, and <math>x_2</math> be the x-coordinate of <math>A</math> and <math>y</math> be the y-coordinate of <math>A</math> and <math>B</math>. Then <math>2\log_ax= y \Longrightarrow a^{y/2} = x</math> and <math>\log_ax_2 = y \Longrightarrow x_2 = a^y = \left(a^{y/2}\right)^2 = x^2</math>. Since the distance between <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> is <math>6</math>, we have <math>x^2 - x - 6 = 0</math>, yielding <math>x = -2, 3</math>.
  
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Substituting back, <math>3\log_{a}x - 2\log_{a}x = 6 \Longrightarrow a^6 = x</math>, so <math>a = \sqrt[6]{3}\ \ \mathrm{(A)}</math>.
 
Substituting back, <math>3\log_{a}x - 2\log_{a}x = 6 \Longrightarrow a^6 = x</math>, so <math>a = \sqrt[6]{3}\ \ \mathrm{(A)}</math>.
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==Solution 2==
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Notice that all of the graphs <math>y = \log_{a}x,</math> <math>y = 2\log_{a}x,</math> and <math>y = 3\log_{a}x</math> have a domain of <math>(0, \infty]</math>. Also notice that <math>y = \log_{a}x</math> is the furthest to the right, as adding coefficients in front of the <math>\log</math> part only makes the graph steeper. Since <math>A</math> is on the graph of <math>y = \log_{a}x</math> and <math>B</math> is on the graph of <math>y = 2\log_{a}x</math>, <math>\,</math> <math>A</math> must be to the right of <math>B</math>. We are told that <math>\overline{AB}</math> is [[parallel]] to the [[x-axis]]. Let <math>A</math> be the point <math>(x, y)</math>. Then the points <math>B</math> and <math>C</math> are
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<math>(x-6, y)</math>
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and
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<math>(x-6, y+6)</math>
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respectively.
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Substituting these coordinates into the equations given yields <math>y = \log_{a}x,</math> <math>y = 2\log_{a}x-6,</math> and <math>y+6 = 3\log_{a}x-6</math>. Rearranging a bit, we get the following equations:
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<math>1) a^y = x</math>
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<math>2) a^y = (x-6)^2</math>
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<math>3) a^{y+6} = (x-6)^3</math>
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Using equations 1 and 2, we get <math>x=(x-6)^2</math>. Solving yields <math>x=9, x=-4</math>. However, <math>-4</math> is extraneous so <math>x=9</math> (also because we know <math>A</math> has to have a positive <math>x</math>-coordinate). Using the second and third equations, we get
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<math>\frac{a^{y+6}}{a^y} = \frac{(x-6)^3}{(x-6)^2}</math> <math>\Rightarrow</math> <math>a^6 = x-6</math>.
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Plugging in <math>9</math> for <math>x</math> yields <math>a^6 = 3</math>, or <math>a= \sqrt[6]{3} \Rightarrow \boxed{\text{A}}</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]  
 
[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]  
 
[[Category:Introductory Geometry Problems]]
 
[[Category:Introductory Geometry Problems]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 18:09, 21 July 2020

Problem

Square $ABCD$ has area $36,$ and $\overline{AB}$ is parallel to the x-axis. Vertices $A,$ $B$, and $C$ are on the graphs of $y = \log_{a}x,$ $y = 2\log_{a}x,$ and $y = 3\log_{a}x,$ respectively. What is $a?$

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \sqrt [6]{3}\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \sqrt {3}\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \sqrt [3]{6}\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ \sqrt {6}\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 6$

Solution 1

Let $x$ be the x-coordinate of $B$ and $C$, and $x_2$ be the x-coordinate of $A$ and $y$ be the y-coordinate of $A$ and $B$. Then $2\log_ax= y \Longrightarrow a^{y/2} = x$ and $\log_ax_2 = y \Longrightarrow x_2 = a^y = \left(a^{y/2}\right)^2 = x^2$. Since the distance between $A$ and $B$ is $6$, we have $x^2 - x - 6 = 0$, yielding $x = -2, 3$.

However, we can discard the negative root (all three logarithmic equations are underneath the line $y = 3$ and above $y = 0$ when $x$ is negative, hence we can't squeeze in a square of side 6). Thus $x = 3$.

Substituting back, $3\log_{a}x - 2\log_{a}x = 6 \Longrightarrow a^6 = x$, so $a = \sqrt[6]{3}\ \ \mathrm{(A)}$.

Solution 2

Notice that all of the graphs $y = \log_{a}x,$ $y = 2\log_{a}x,$ and $y = 3\log_{a}x$ have a domain of $(0, \infty]$. Also notice that $y = \log_{a}x$ is the furthest to the right, as adding coefficients in front of the $\log$ part only makes the graph steeper. Since $A$ is on the graph of $y = \log_{a}x$ and $B$ is on the graph of $y = 2\log_{a}x$, $\,$ $A$ must be to the right of $B$. We are told that $\overline{AB}$ is parallel to the x-axis. Let $A$ be the point $(x, y)$. Then the points $B$ and $C$ are

$(x-6, y)$

and

$(x-6, y+6)$

respectively.

Substituting these coordinates into the equations given yields $y = \log_{a}x,$ $y = 2\log_{a}x-6,$ and $y+6 = 3\log_{a}x-6$. Rearranging a bit, we get the following equations:

$1) a^y = x$

$2) a^y = (x-6)^2$

$3) a^{y+6} = (x-6)^3$

Using equations 1 and 2, we get $x=(x-6)^2$. Solving yields $x=9, x=-4$. However, $-4$ is extraneous so $x=9$ (also because we know $A$ has to have a positive $x$-coordinate). Using the second and third equations, we get

$\frac{a^{y+6}}{a^y} = \frac{(x-6)^3}{(x-6)^2}$ $\Rightarrow$ $a^6 = x-6$.

Plugging in $9$ for $x$ yields $a^6 = 3$, or $a= \sqrt[6]{3} \Rightarrow \boxed{\text{A}}$.

See also

2007 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 22 		Followed by
Problem 24
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
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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