2016 AMC 12A Problem 7

Attempt Problem 7 of the 2016 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 2016 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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7.

Which of these describes the graph of x2(x+y+1)=y2(x+y+1)?x^2(x+y+1)=y^2(x+y+1)?

two parallel lines

two intersecting lines

three lines that all pass through a common point

three lines that do not all pass through a common point

a line and a parabola

Answer: D
Concepts:factoringdifference of squares
Difficulty rating: 1410
Solution:

Moving all terms to one side gives (x2y2)(x+y+1)=0, (x^2-y^2)(x+y+1)=0, which factors as (xy)(x+y)(x+y+1)=0. (x-y)(x+y)(x+y+1)=0. The graph is therefore the union of the lines x=y,x=y, x=y,x=-y, and x+y+1=0.x+y+1=0.

The first two lines intersect at the origin, but the third line x+y=1x+y=-1 is parallel to x+y=0x+y=0 and does not pass through the origin. So the graph consists of three lines that do not all pass through a common point.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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