2021 AMC 10A Fall Problem 14

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14.

How many ordered pairs (x,y)(x,y) of real numbers satisfy the following system of equations? x2+3y=9,(x+y4)2=1.\begin{aligned} x^2+3y&=9, \\ (|x|+|y|-4)^2&=1. \end{aligned}

11

22

33

55

77

Answer: D
Concepts:absolute valuesystem of equationscasework
Difficulty rating: 1540
Solution:

Put t=x.t=|x|. The second equation gives t+y=3t+|y|=3 or 5,5, while the first gives y=3t23.y=3-\frac{t^2}{3}.

If y0,y\ge0, then 0t3.0\le t\le3. For t+y=3,t+y=3, substitution gives tt23=0,t-\frac{t^2}{3}=0, so t=0t=0 or 3.3. These yield x=0,3,3,x=0,3,-3, for three points. For t+y=5,t+y=5, substitution gives t23t+6=0,t^2-3t+6=0, which has no real root.

If y<0,y<0, then t>3.t>3. The equation ty=3t-y=3 gives t2+3t18=0,t^2+3t-18=0, whose only nonnegative root is the excluded boundary value t=3.t=3. The equation ty=5t-y=5 gives t2+3t24=0,t^2+3t-24=0, with exactly one positive root t=3+1052>3.t=\frac{-3+\sqrt{105}}2>3. It yields two points, one for each sign of x.x.

The total number of ordered pairs is 3+2=5.3+2=5.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

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