Question

A retiring employee receives an annual pension proportional to the square root of the number of years of his service. Had he served $a$ years more, his pension would have been $p$ dollars greater, whereas, had he served $b$ years more ( $b\ne a$ ), his pension would have been $q$ dollars greater than the original annual pension. Find his annual pension in terms of $a,$ $b,$ $p,$ and $q.$

$\dfrac{p^2-q^2}{2(a-b)}$

$\dfrac{(p-q)^2}{2\sqrt{ab}}$

$\dfrac{ap^2-bq^2}{2(ap-bq)}$

$\dfrac{aq^2-bp^2}{2(bp-aq)}$

$\sqrt{(a-b)(p-q)}$

Answer: D

Concepts:ratio and proportion radical system of equations algebraic manipulation

Difficulty rating: 2440

Small Hint:

Let the current pension be $X=k\sqrt n$ and write the two hypothetical pensions

Big Hint:

Square $X+p=k\sqrt{n+a}$ and $X+q=k\sqrt{n+b}$ , then eliminate both $n$ and $k^2$

Solution:

Let the current pension be $X=k\sqrt n.$ Since $X+p=k\sqrt{n+a}$ and $X+q=k\sqrt{n+b},$ squaring and using $X^2=k^2n$ gives the first line below. Multiplying its equations by $b$ and $a,$ respectively, and subtracting gives the second: $\begin{gathered} 2pX+p^2=k^2a,\\ 2qX+q^2=k^2b,\\ 2X(bp-aq)=aq^2-bp^2. \end{gathered}$ Hence $X=\dfrac{aq^2-bp^2}{2(bp-aq)}.$

Therefore, the correct answer is D.

1970 AMC 12 Problem 35

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 2440

Small Hint:

Big Hint:

Solution:

Problem 35 in Other Years