2003 AMC 12B Problem 17

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 17 of the 2003 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:logarithmsystem of equations

Difficulty rating: 1540

17.

If log(xy3)=1\log(xy^3) = 1 and log(x2y)=1,\log(x^2y) = 1, what is log(xy)?\log(xy)?

12-\dfrac{1}{2}

00

12\dfrac{1}{2}

35\dfrac{3}{5}

11

Solution:

Let X=logxX = \log x and Y=logy.Y = \log y. Then X+3Y=1and2X+Y=1. X + 3Y = 1 \quad\text{and}\quad 2X + Y = 1.

Solving gives X=25X = \dfrac{2}{5} and Y=15,Y = \dfrac{1}{5}, so log(xy)=X+Y=35. \log(xy) = X + Y = \frac{3}{5}.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 17 in Other Years