Difference between revisions of "2022 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 14"

(Solution 2)
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==Solution 2==
 
==Solution 2==
  
Like above, we set <math>A</math> to <math>(-5,0)</math>, <math>B</math> to <math>(0, -15)</math>, and <math>C</math> to <math>(3,0)</math>, then finding that <math>AB = 5 \sqrt{10}</math> and <math>BC = 3 \sqrt{26}</math>. Using the Law of Cosines, we then see that <cmath>\cos(\angle ABC) = \frac{AB^2 + BC^2 - AC^2}{2 AB BC} = \frac{250 + 234 - 64}{15 \sqrt{260}} = \frac{7}{\sqrt{65}}.</cmath> Then, we use the identity <math>\tan^2(x) = \sec^2(x) - 1</math> to get <cmath>\tan(\angle ABC) = \sqrt{\frac{65}{49} - 1} = \boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{4}{7}}.</cmath>
+
Like above, we set <math>A</math> to <math>(-5,0)</math>, <math>B</math> to <math>(0, -15)</math>, and <math>C</math> to <math>(3,0)</math>, then finding via the Pythagorean Theorem that <math>AB = 5 \sqrt{10}</math> and <math>BC = 3 \sqrt{26}</math>. Using the Law of Cosines, we see that <cmath>\cos(\angle ABC) = \frac{AB^2 + BC^2 - AC^2}{2 AB BC} = \frac{250 + 234 - 64}{15 \sqrt{260}} = \frac{7}{\sqrt{65}}.</cmath> Then, we use the identity <math>\tan^2(x) = \sec^2(x) - 1</math> to get <cmath>\tan(\angle ABC) = \sqrt{\frac{65}{49} - 1} = \boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{4}{7}}.</cmath>
  
 
~ jamesl123456
 
~ jamesl123456

Revision as of 16:57, 18 November 2022

Problem

The graph of $y=x^2+2x-15$ intersects the $x$-axis at points $A$ and $C$ and the $y$-axis at point $B$. What is $\tan(\angle ABC)$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{7} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{4} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{3}{7} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{1}{2} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac{4}{7} \qquad$

Solution 1

$y=x^2+2x-15$ intersects the $x$-axis at points $(-5, 0)$ and $(3, 0)$. Without loss of generality, let these points be $A$ and $C$ respectively. Also, the graph intersects the y-axis at point $B = (0, -15)$.

Let point $O$ denote the origin $(0, 0)$. Note that triangles $AOB$ and $BOC$ are right.

We have

\[\tan(\angle ABC) = \tan(\angle ABO + \angle OBC) = \frac{\tan(\angle ABO) + \tan(\angle OBC)}{1 - \tan(\angle ABO) \cdot \tan(\angle OBC)} = \frac{\frac15 + \frac13}{1 - \frac1{15}} = \boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{4}{7}}.\]

Alternatively, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find that $AB = 5 \sqrt{10}$ and $BC = 3 \sqrt{26}$ and then use the $A = \frac12 ab \sin \angle C$ area formula for a triangle and the Law of Cosines to find $\tan(\angle ABC)$.

Solution 2

Like above, we set $A$ to $(-5,0)$, $B$ to $(0, -15)$, and $C$ to $(3,0)$, then finding via the Pythagorean Theorem that $AB = 5 \sqrt{10}$ and $BC = 3 \sqrt{26}$. Using the Law of Cosines, we see that \[\cos(\angle ABC) = \frac{AB^2 + BC^2 - AC^2}{2 AB BC} = \frac{250 + 234 - 64}{15 \sqrt{260}} = \frac{7}{\sqrt{65}}.\] Then, we use the identity $\tan^2(x) = \sec^2(x) - 1$ to get \[\tan(\angle ABC) = \sqrt{\frac{65}{49} - 1} = \boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{4}{7}}.\]

~ jamesl123456

See Also

2022 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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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