2000 AMC 12 Problem 20

Attempt Problem 20 of the 2000 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 2000 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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20.

If x,x, y,y, and zz are positive numbers satisfying x+1y=4,x + \frac{1}{y} = 4, y+1z=1,y + \frac{1}{z} = 1, and z+1x=73,z + \frac{1}{x} = \frac{7}{3}, then what is xyz?xyz?

23\dfrac{2}{3}

11

43\dfrac{4}{3}

22

73\dfrac{7}{3}

Answer: B
Concepts:system of equationsalgebraic manipulationsymmetry (algebra)
Difficulty rating: 1970
Solution:

Adding the three equations gives (x+1y)+(y+1z)+(z+1x)=4+1+73=223. \begin{gathered} \left(x + \tfrac1y\right) + \left(y + \tfrac1z\right) \\ {}+ \left(z + \tfrac1x\right) \\ = 4 + 1 + \tfrac73 \\ = \tfrac{22}{3}. \end{gathered}

Multiplying them gives 4173=283. 4 \cdot 1 \cdot \tfrac73 = \tfrac{28}{3}.

Expanding the product, (x+1y)(y+1z)(z+1x)=xyz+(x+y+z+1x+1y+1z)+1xyz. \begin{aligned} &\left(x + \tfrac1y\right) \\ &\quad {}\cdot \left(y + \tfrac1z\right) \\ &\quad {}\cdot \left(z + \tfrac1x\right) \\ &= xyz \\ &\quad {}+ \left(x + y + z + \tfrac1x + \tfrac1y + \tfrac1z\right) \\ &\quad {}+ \frac{1}{xyz}. \end{aligned} The middle group is the sum 223,\tfrac{22}{3}, so xyz+1xyz=283223=2.xyz + \dfrac{1}{xyz} = \tfrac{28}{3} - \tfrac{22}{3} = 2.

Hence (xyz1)2=0,(xyz - 1)^2 = 0, so xyz=1.xyz = 1.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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