Question

The parallelogram bounded by the lines $y=ax+c,$ $y=ax+d,$ $y=bx+c,$ and $y=bx+d$ has area $18.$ The parallelogram bounded by the lines $y=ax+c,$ $y=ax-d,$ $y=bx+c,$ and $y=bx-d$ has area $72.$ Given that $a,$ $b,$ $c,$ and $d$ are positive integers, what is the smallest possible value of $a+b+c+d?$

$13$

$14$

$15$

$16$

$17$

Solution:

Two vertices of the first parallelogram lie at $(0,c)$ and $(0,d),$ and the other two have $x$ -coordinates $\pm\dfrac{c-d}{b-a}.$ Its area works out to $\dfrac{(c-d)^2}{|b-a|}=18.$ The same computation for the second gives $\dfrac{(c+d)^2}{|b-a|}=72.$

So $(c-d)^2=18|b-a|$ and $(c+d)^2=72|b-a|.$ Subtracting, $4cd=54|b-a|,$ i.e. $2cd=27|b-a|.$

Thus $|b-a|$ is even, so $a+b$ is smallest with $\{a,b\}=\{1,3\};$ and $cd$ is a multiple of $27,$ so $c+d$ is smallest with $\{c,d\}=\{3,9\}.$ These satisfy all conditions, giving $a+b+c+d=1+3+3+9=16.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2007 AMC 12B Problem 20

Solution:

Problem 20 in Other Years