2021 AMC 10A Fall Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2021 AMC 10A Fall, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 10A Fall solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:floor and ceiling functionssymmetry (algebra)

Difficulty rating: 1540

16.

The graph of f(x)=x1xf(x) = |\lfloor x \rfloor| - |\lfloor 1 - x \rfloor| is symmetric about which of the following? (Here x\lfloor x \rfloor is the greatest integer not exceeding x.x.)

the y-axis\text{the }y\text{-axis}

the line x=1\text{the line }x = 1

the origin\text{the origin}

the point (12,0)\text{the point }\left(\dfrac{1}{2}, 0\right)

the point (1,0)\text{the point }(1,0)

Solution:

For every real xx, f(1x)=1xx=f(x).f(1-x)=|\lfloor 1-x\rfloor|-|\lfloor x\rfloor|=-f(x).

Equivalently, replacing xx by 12+t\frac{1}{2}+t gives f ⁣(12t)=f ⁣(12+t)f\!\left(\frac{1}{2}-t\right)=-f\!\left(\frac{1}{2}+t\right). This is point symmetry about (12,0)\left(\frac{1}{2},0\right).

Thus, D is the correct answer.

Problem 16 in Other Years