1959 AMC 12 Problem 38
Attempt Problem 38 of the 1959 AMC 12 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 1959 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.
All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
38.
If then
is an integer
is fractional
is irrational
is imaginary
may have two different values
Answer: B
Small Hint:
Set so and
Big Hint:
Solve the resulting quadratic
Solution:
Let Since the equation becomes or Thus and The other quadratic root is inadmissible because Hence is fractional.
Therefore, the correct answer is B.
Problem 38 in Other Years
1950 AMC 12 · 1951 AMC 12 · 1952 AMC 12 · 1953 AMC 12 · 1954 AMC 12 · 1955 AMC 12 · 1956 AMC 12 · 1957 AMC 12 · 1958 AMC 12 · 1960 AMC 12 · 1961 AMC 12 · 1962 AMC 12 · 1963 AMC 12 · 1964 AMC 12 · 1965 AMC 12 · 1966 AMC 12 · 1967 AMC 12