2017 AMC 10A Problem 12
Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 12 of the 2017 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2017 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.
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Difficulty rating: 1540
12.
Let be a set of points in the coordinate plane such that two of the three quantities and are equal and the third of the three quantities is no greater than this common value. Which of the following is a correct description for
a single point
two intersecting lines
three lines whose pairwise intersections are three distinct points
a triangle
three rays with a common endpoint
Solution:
Let us case on which of the values are equal. If then This also tells us that This describes a ray starting at and extending in the negative direction.
Similarly, if then and This also describes a ray starting at but instead extending in the negative direction.
Finally, if then we have the line Furthermore, we have that and Note that if one of these conditions is met, the other is also necessarily true due to the equation of the line.
If then The other points are along the line, where and
This describes another ray that starts at and goes off in some third direction.
All three cases result in rays originating from that all go in different directions.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
Problem 12 in Other Years
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