2003 AMC 12B Problem 20

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 20 of the 2003 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:polynomialsubstitution

Difficulty rating: 1580

20.

Part of the graph of f(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+df(x) = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d is shown. What is b?b?

4-4

2-2

00

22

44

Solution:

The graph passes through (1,0),(-1, 0), (1,0),(1, 0), and (0,2).(0, 2). So f(0)=d=2.f(0) = d = 2.

Adding f(1)+f(1)=(a+b+c+d)+(a+bc+d)=2b+2d=0, f(1) + f(-1) = (a + b + c + d) + (-a + b - c + d) = 2b + 2d = 0, so b=d=2.b = -d = -2.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 20 in Other Years