2005 AMC 10A Problem 10

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 10 of the 2005 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2005 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:quadratic algebraic manipulation

Difficulty rating: 1370

10.

There are two values of $a$ for which the equation $4x^2 + ax + 8x + 9 = 0$ has only one solution for $x.$ What is the sum of those values of $a?$

$-16$

$-8$

$0$

$8$

$20$

Solution:

Writing the equation as $4x^2 + (a+8)x + 9 = 0,$ there is one solution exactly when the discriminant $(a+8)^2 - 144 = 0.$ Then $a + 8 = \pm 12,$ so $a = 4$ or $a = -20,$ and their sum is $-16.$

Thus, the correct answer is A.

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