2003 AMC 10A Problem 5

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 5 of the 2003 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:quadraticfactoring

Difficulty rating: 1200

5.

Let dd and ee denote the solutions of 2x2+3x5=0.2x^2 + 3x - 5 = 0. What is the value of (d1)(e1)?(d - 1)(e - 1)?

52-\dfrac{5}{2}

00

33

55

66

Solution:

Factoring gives 2x2+3x5=(2x+5)(x1),2x^2 + 3x - 5 = (2x + 5)(x - 1), so the roots are 52-\dfrac{5}{2} and 1.1.

Since one root equals 1,1, the factor (e1)=0,(e - 1) = 0, making the product 0.0.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 5 in Other Years