2019 AMC 10B Problem 4

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Concepts:linear equationarithmetic sequencecoordinate geometry

Difficulty rating: 1220

4.

All lines with equation ax+by=cax+by=c such that a,b,ca,b,c form an arithmetic progression pass through a common point. What are the coordinates of that point?

(1,2) (-1,2)

(0,1) (0,1)

(1,2) (1,-2)

(1,0) (1,0)

(1,2) (1,2)

Solution:

Let d=ba.d=b-a.

Then, we have (a,b,c)=(a,a+d,a+2d).(a,b,c)= (a,a+d,a+2d). Thus, ax+(a+d)y=a+2d.ax+(a+d)y=a+2d. If we match the parts of aa and d,d, we get ax+ay=aax+ay=a and dy=2ddy=2d for all a,d.a,d. Therefore, we have y=2,x+y=1y=2,x+y=1 implying that x=1.x=-1. This makes the pair (1,2).(-1,2).

Thus, the answer is A .

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