Question

Let $S$ be the set of points $(x,y)$ in the coordinate plane such that two of the three quantities $3,$ $x+2,$ and $y-4$ are equal and the third of the three quantities is no greater than this common value. Which of the following is a correct description of $S?$

a single point

two intersecting lines

three lines whose pairwise intersections are three distinct points

a triangle

three rays with a common endpoint

Answer: E

Concepts:coordinate geometry casework

Difficulty rating: 1500

Solution:

Consider which two of $3,$ $x+2,$ $y-4$ are the (equal) larger pair.

If $3=x+2\ge y-4:$ then $x=1$ and $y\le7,$ a downward ray from $(1,7).$ If $3=y-4\ge x+2:$ then $y=7$ and $x\le1,$ a leftward ray from $(1,7).$ If $x+2=y-4\ge3:$ then $y=x+6$ and $x\ge1,$ a ray from $(1,7)$ going up and to the right.

All three rays share the endpoint $(1,7),$ so $S$ is three rays with a common endpoint.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2017 AMC 12A Problem 9

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 1500

Solution:

Problem 9 in Other Years