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2014 AMC 12A Problem 19

Problem 19 of 25HarderAlgebraProblem-Solving Techniques

There are exactly NN distinct rational numbers kk such that ∣k∣<200|k|\lt200 and 5x2+kx+12=05x^2+kx+12=0 has at least one integer solution for x.x. What is N?N?

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Solution

If an integer xx is a root, then k=−(5x+12x),k=-\left(5x+\dfrac{12}{x}\right), so x≠0.x\ne0. For x≥2,x\ge2, ∣k∣=5∣x∣+12∣x∣|k|=5|x|+\dfrac{12}{|x|} increases, and ∣x∣=39|x|=39 gives ∣k∣≈195.3<200,|k|\approx195.3\lt200, while ∣x∣=40|x|=40 gives ∣k∣>200.|k|\gt200. Thus xx ranges over ±1,±2,…,±39,\pm1,\pm2,\dots,\pm39, which is 7878 values. If two integers a≠ba\ne b gave the same k,k, then 5a+12a=5b+12b5a+\tfrac{12}{a}=5b+\tfrac{12}{b} forces 5ab=12,5ab=12, which has no integer solutions, so all 7878 values of kk are distinct. Thus, the correct answer is E.
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Tagged: quadratic · bounding to limit cases

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