Difference between revisions of "2014 AIME I Problems/Problem 6"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Begin by setting <math>x</math> to 0, then set both equations to <math>h^2=\frac{2013-j}{3}</math> and <math>h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}</math>, respectively. You'll notice that because the two parabolas have to have x-intercepts, <math>h\le32</math>.
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Begin by setting <math>x</math> to 0, then set both equations to <math>h^2=\frac{2013-j}{3}</math> and <math>h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}</math>, respectively. You'll notice that because the two parabolas have to have x-intercepts, <math>h\ge32</math>.
  
 
You'll know that <math>h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}</math>, so you now need to find a positive integer <math>h</math> which has positive integer x-intercepts for both equations.
 
You'll know that <math>h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}</math>, so you now need to find a positive integer <math>h</math> which has positive integer x-intercepts for both equations.

Revision as of 13:48, 15 March 2014

Problem 6

The graphs $y=3(x-h)^2+j$ and $y=2(x-h)^2+k$ have y-intercepts of $2013$ and $2014$, respectively, and each graph has two positive integer x-intercepts. Find $h$.

Solution

Begin by setting $x$ to 0, then set both equations to $h^2=\frac{2013-j}{3}$ and $h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}$, respectively. You'll notice that because the two parabolas have to have x-intercepts, $h\ge32$.

You'll know that $h^2=\frac{2014-k}{2}$, so you now need to find a positive integer $h$ which has positive integer x-intercepts for both equations.

Notice that if $k=2014-2h^2$ is -2 times a square number, then you have found a value of $h$ for which the second equation has positive x-intercepts. We guess and check $h=36$ to obtain $k=-578=-2(17^2)$.

Following this, we check to make sure the first equation also has positive x-intercepts (which it does), so we can conclude the answer is $\boxed{036}$.

See also

2014 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 5
Followed by
Problem 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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