2018 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 3

Revision as of 15:05, 16 February 2018 by Giraffefun (talk | contribs) (Solution 1)

A line with slope 2 intersects a line with slope 6 at the point $(40,30)$. What is the distance between the $x$-intercepts of these two lines?

$(\text{A}) 5 \qquad (\text{B}) 10 \qquad (\text{C}) 20 \qquad (\text{D}) 25 \qquad (\text{E}) 50$


Solution 1

Using the slope-intercept form, we get the equations $y-30 = 6(x-40)$ and $y-30 = 2(x-40)$. Simplifying, we get $6x-y=210$ and $2x-y=50$. Letting $y=0$ in both equations gives the $x$-intercepts: $x=35$ and $x=25$, respectively. Thus the distance between them is $35-25 = 10 \rightarrow (\text{B})$