2006 AMC 12A Problem 21

Attempt Problem 21 of the 2006 AMC 12A 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 2006 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

21.

Let
S1={(x,y)∣log⁡10(1+x2+y2)≤1+log⁡10(x+y)} \tiny S_1 = \{(x, y) \mid \log_{10}(1 + x^2 + y^2) \le 1 + \log_{10}(x + y)\}
and
S2={(x,y)∣log⁡10(2+x2+y2)≤2+log⁡10(x+y)}. \tiny S_2 = \{(x, y) \mid \log_{10}(2 + x^2 + y^2) \le 2 + \log_{10}(x + y)\}.
What is the ratio of the area of S2S_2 to the area of S1?S_1?
9898
9999
100100
101101
102102
Answer: E
Concepts:logarithmcompleting the squarecircle area
Small hint:
For j=1,2,j = 1, 2, rewrite the condition as j+x2+y2≤10j(x+y)j + x^2 + y^2 \le 10^j(x + y)
Big hint:
Complete the square to get disks, then compare their squared radii
Solution:
For j=1,2,j = 1, 2, the condition becomes j+x2+y2≤10j(x+y),j + x^2 + y^2 \le 10^j(x + y), i.e. (x−10j2)2+(y−10j2)2≤102j2−j. \begin{gathered} \left(x - \frac{10^j}{2}\right)^2 \\ {}+ \left(y - \frac{10^j}{2}\right)^2 \\ \le \frac{10^{2j}}{2} - j. \end{gathered}
These are disks with squared radii 1002−1=49\tfrac{100}{2} - 1 = 49 for S1S_1 and 100002−2=4998\tfrac{10000}{2} - 2 = 4998 for S2.S_2.
The logarithms require x+y>0.x+y>0. For each disk, the squared distance from its center to the line x+y=0x+y=0 is 102j2,\tfrac{10^{2j}}{2}, which is jj more than the squared radius. Hence both disks lie entirely in x+y>0,x+y>0, so no points were added when the inequalities were rewritten. The area ratio is 499849=102.\dfrac{4998}{49} = 102.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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