1976 AMC 12 Problem 30
Attempt Problem 30 of the 1976 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 1976 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.
All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
30.
How many distinct ordered triples satisfy the equations
none
Answer: E
Small Hint:
Rescale the variables by setting and
Big Hint:
The new variables have elementary symmetric sums and
Solution:
Set and Dividing the first two equations by gives while Thus and are the three roots of This polynomial factors as so they are and in any order. Their permutations produce distinct ordered triples
Therefore, the correct answer is E.
Problem 30 in Other Years
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