2022 AMC 12B Problem 16

Attempt Problem 16 of the 2022 AMC 12B 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 2022 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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16.

Suppose $x$ and $y$ are positive real numbers such that

$x^y = 2^{64}$ and $(\log_2 x)^{\log_2 y} = 2^7.$

What is the greatest possible value of $\log_2 y?$

$3$

$4$

$3 + \sqrt2$

$4 + \sqrt3$

$7$

Answer: C

Concepts:logarithm substitution quadratic

Difficulty rating: 1800

Solution:

Let $a = \log_2 x$ and $b = \log_2 y.$ Taking $\log_2$ of $x^y = 2^{64}$ gives $y \log_2 x = 64,$ i.e. $a \cdot 2^b = 2^6.$

Taking $\log_2$ of the second equation gives $b \log_2 a = 7,$ so $a = 2^{7/b}.$ Substituting, $2^{7/b} \cdot 2^b = 2^6,$ so $b + \dfrac7b = 6,$ i.e. $b^2 - 6b + 7 = 0.$

Thus $b = 3 \pm \sqrt2,$ and the greatest value of $\log_2 y$ is $3 + \sqrt2.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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