2005 AMC 12B Problem 8 — Solution | LIVE by Po-Shen Loh

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2005 AMC 12B Problem 8

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 8 of the 2005 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2005 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:parabola quadratic

Difficulty rating: 1350

8.

For how many values of $a$ is it true that the line $y = x + a$ passes through the vertex of the parabola $y = x^2 + a^2?$

$0$

$1$

$2$

$10$

infinitely many

Solution:

The vertex of the parabola $y = x^2 + a^2$ is $(0, a^2).$

The line $y = x + a$ passes through it exactly when $a^2 = 0 + a,$ that is $a^2 - a = 0.$

This gives $a = 0$ or $a = 1,$ so there are $2$ values.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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