2013 AMC 10B Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2013 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2013 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

Real numbers xx and yy satisfy the equation x2+y2=10x6y34.x^2+y^2=10x-6y-34. What is x+y?x+y?

1 1

2 2

3 3

6 6

8 8

Answer: B
Concepts:completing the square
Difficulty rating: 1020
Small Hint:

Move all terms to one side and complete two squares

Big Hint:

A sum of squares equals zero only when both squares are zero

Solution:

This can be rewritten as x210x+y2+6y+34=0.x^2-10x+y^2+6y+34=0.

Completing the square yields x210x+25+y2+6y+9x^2-10x+25+y^2+6y+9 =(x5)2+(y+3)2=(x-5)^2+(y+3)^2 =0.=0. Since both squared terms are nonnegative and their sum is 0,0, both must be 00. Thus (x5)2=(y+3)2=0.(x-5)^2 = (y+3)^2=0.

Therefore, x=5,y=3,x=5,y=-3, so x+y=2.x+y=2.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 10#10
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