Difference between revisions of "2011 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 21"

(sidenote)
(Solution)
Line 8: Line 8:
 
Answer: (D)
 
Answer: (D)
  
<math>\frac{x + y}{2} = 10 a+b</math> for some <math>1\le a\le 9 </math>,<math>0\le b\le 9</math>.
+
\frac{x + y}{2} = 10 a+b<math> for some </math>1\le a\le 9 <math>,</math>0\le b\le 9<math>.
  
<math>\sqrt{xy} = 10 b+a</math>
+
</math>\sqrt{xy} = 10 b+a<math>
  
<math>100 a^2 + 20 ab + b^2 = \frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4}</math>
+
</math>100 a^2 + 20 ab + b^2 = \frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4}<math>
  
<math>xy = 100b^2 + 20ab + a^2</math>
+
</math>xy = 100b^2 + 20ab + a^2<math>
  
<math>\frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4} - xy = \frac{x^2 - 2xy + y^2}{4} = \left(\frac{x-y}{2}\right)^2 = 99 a^2 - 99 b^2 = 99(a^2 - b^2)</math>
+
</math>\frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4} - xy = \frac{x^2 - 2xy + y^2}{4} = \left(\frac{x-y}{2}\right)^2 = 99 a^2 - 99 b^2 = 99(a^2 - b^2)<math>
  
  
 
<br />
 
<br />
<math>|x-y| = 2\sqrt{99(a^2 - b^2)}</math>
+
</math>|x-y| = 2\sqrt{99(a^2 - b^2)}<math>
  
Note that in order for x-y to be integer, <math>(a^2 - b^2)</math> has to be <math>11n</math> for some perfect square <math>n</math>. Since <math>a</math> is at most <math>9</math>, <math>n = 1</math> or <math>4</math>
+
Note that in order for x-y to be integer, </math>(a^2 - b^2)<math> has to be </math>11n<math> for some perfect square </math>n<math>. Since </math>a<math> is at most </math>9<math>, </math>n = 1<math> or </math>4<math>
  
If <math>n = 1</math>, <math>|x-y| = 66</math>, if <math>n = 4</math>, <math>|x-y| = 132</math>. In AMC, we are done. Otherwise, we need to show that <math>a^2 -b^2 = 44</math> is impossible.
+
If </math>n = 1<math>, </math>|x-y| = 66<math>, if </math>n = 4<math>, </math>|x-y| = 132<math>. In AMC, we are done. Otherwise, we need to show that </math>a^2 -b^2 = 44<math> is impossible.
  
<math>(a-b)(a+b) = 44</math> -> <math>a-b = 1</math>, or <math>2</math> or <math>4</math> and <math>a+b = 44</math>, <math>22</math>, <math>11</math> respectively. And since <math>a+b \le 18</math>, <math>a+b = 11</math>, <math>a-b = 4</math>, but there is no integer solution for <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>.
+
</math>(a-b)(a+b) = 44<math> -> </math>a-b = 1<math>, or </math>2<math> or </math>4<math> and </math>a+b = 44<math>, </math>22<math>, </math>11<math> respectively. And since </math>a+b \le 18<math>, </math>a+b = 11<math>, </math>a-b = 4<math>, but there is no integer solution for </math>a<math>, </math>b<math>.
  
 
In addition:
 
In addition:
Note that <math>11n</math> with <math>n = 1</math> may be obtained with <math>a = 6</math> and <math>b = 5</math> as <math>a^2 - b^2 = 36 - 25 = 11</math>.
+
Note that </math>11n<math> with </math>n = 1<math> may be obtained with </math>a = 6<math> and </math>b = 5<math> as </math>a^2 - b^2 = 36 - 25 = 11$.
  
 
==Sidenote==
 
==Sidenote==

Revision as of 22:11, 20 January 2018

Problem

The arithmetic mean of two distinct positive integers $x$ and $y$ is a two-digit integer. The geometric mean of $x$ and $y$ is obtained by reversing the digits of the arithmetic mean. What is $|x - y|$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 24 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 48 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 54 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 66 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 70$

Solution

Answer: (D)

\frac{x + y}{2} = 10 a+b$for some$1\le a\le 9 $,$0\le b\le 9$.$\sqrt{xy} = 10 b+a$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)100 a^2 + 20 ab + b^2 = \frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4}$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)xy = 100b^2 + 20ab + a^2$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)\frac{x^2 + 2xy + y^2}{4} - xy = \frac{x^2 - 2xy + y^2}{4} = \left(\frac{x-y}{2}\right)^2 = 99 a^2 - 99 b^2 = 99(a^2 - b^2)$<br />$|x-y| = 2\sqrt{99(a^2 - b^2)}$Note that in order for x-y to be integer,$(a^2 - b^2)$has to be$11n$for some perfect square$n$. Since$a$is at most$9$,$n = 1$or$4$If$n = 1$,$|x-y| = 66$, if$n = 4$,$|x-y| = 132$. In AMC, we are done. Otherwise, we need to show that$a^2 -b^2 = 44$is impossible.$(a-b)(a+b) = 44$->$a-b = 1$, or$2$or$4$and$a+b = 44$,$22$,$11$respectively. And since$a+b \le 18$,$a+b = 11$,$a-b = 4$, but there is no integer solution for$a$,$b$.

In addition: Note that$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)11n$with$n = 1$may be obtained with$a = 6$and$b = 5$as$a^2 - b^2 = 36 - 25 = 11$.

Sidenote

It is easy to see that $(a,b)=(6,5)$ is the only solution. This yields $(x,y)=(98,32)$. Their arithmetic mean is $65$ and their geometric mean is $56$.

See also

2011 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
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

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png