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2013 AMC 12A Problem 8

Problem 8 of 25EasierAlgebra

Given that xx and yy are distinct nonzero real numbers such that x+2x=y+2y,x + \dfrac{2}{x} = y + \dfrac{2}{y}, what is xy?xy?

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Solution

Multiplying by xyxy gives x2y+2y=xy2+2x,x^2 y + 2y = xy^2 + 2x, so x2y−xy2−2x+2y=(x−y)(xy−2)=0. \begin{gathered} x^2 y - xy^2 - 2x + 2y \\ = (x - y)(xy - 2) \\ = 0. \end{gathered} Since x≠y,x \ne y, it follows that xy=2.xy = 2. Thus, the correct answer is D.
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Tagged: algebraic manipulation · factoring

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