2006 AMC 12B Problem 12

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 12 of the 2006 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2006 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:parabolaquadratic

Difficulty rating: 1530

12.

The parabola y=ax2+bx+cy = ax^2 + bx + c has vertex (p,p)(p, p) and yy-intercept (0,p),(0, -p), where p0.p \neq 0. What is b?b?

p-p

00

22

44

pp

Solution:

The vertex form is y=a(xp)2+p.y = a(x - p)^2 + p.

At x=0,x = 0, y=ap2+p=p,y = ap^2 + p = -p, so ap2=2pap^2 = -2p and a=2p.a = -\dfrac{2}{p}.

Expanding, y=ax22apx+ap2+p,y = a x^2 - 2ap\, x + ap^2 + p, so b=2ap=2(2p)p=4.b = -2ap = -2\left(-\dfrac{2}{p}\right)p = 4.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 12 in Other Years