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2017 AMC 10B Problem 10

Problem 10 of 25EasierAlgebraGeometry

The lines with equations ax2y=cax-2y=c and 2x+by=c2x+by=-c are perpendicular and intersect at (1,5).(1, -5). What is c?c?

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Solution

The first equation can be rewritten as y=a2xc2,y=\dfrac a2x-\dfrac c2, and the second as y=2bxcb.y=-\dfrac2b x-\dfrac cb. Because the lines are perpendicular, their slopes multiply to 1,-1, so a=b.a=b. Substituting (x,y)=(1,5)(x,y)=(1,-5) into the two original equations gives a+10=ca+10=c and 25a=c.2-5a=-c. Adding these equations yields 124a=0,12-4a=0, so a=3a=3 and c=13.c=13. Thus, the correct answer is E .

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Concepts: coordinate geometry · slope · system of equations

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.