2011 AMC 10A Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2011 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2011 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:radicalalgebraic manipulation

Difficulty rating: 1480

16.

Which of the following is equal to 962+9+62?\sqrt{9-6\sqrt{2}}+\sqrt{9+6\sqrt{2}}?

323\sqrt2

262\sqrt6

722\dfrac{7\sqrt2}{2}

333\sqrt3

66

Solution:

Since we have square roots, we can try to change the inside of each radical to be a perfect square.

Note that we can rewrite the expression as 662+3+6+62+3. \sqrt{6 - 6\sqrt2 + 3} + \sqrt{6 + 6\sqrt2 + 3}.

Factoring and simplifying gives us (63)2+(6+3)2 \sqrt{(\sqrt6 - \sqrt3)^2} + \sqrt{(\sqrt6 + \sqrt3)^2} =63+6+3=26. = \sqrt6 - \sqrt3 + \sqrt6 + \sqrt3 = 2\sqrt6.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

Problem 16 in Other Years