2010 AMC 12A Problem 21

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 21 of the 2010 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2010 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:polynomial factoring completing the square

Difficulty rating: 2000

21.

The graph of $y=x^6-10x^5+29x^4-4x^3+ax^2$ lies above the line $y=bx+c$ except at three values of $x,$ where the graph and the line intersect. What is the largest of those values?

$4$

$5$

$6$

$7$

$8$

Solution:

Let $f(x)$ be the graph minus the line. It is nonnegative and vanishes at three points, each a double root, so $f(x)=\big(x^3-Ax^2+Bx-C\big)^2.$

Matching coefficients gives $-2A=-10\Rightarrow A=5,$ then $A^2+2B=29\Rightarrow B=2,$ then $-2C-2AB=-4\Rightarrow C=-8.$

Thus the cubic is $x^3-5x^2+2x+8=(x+1)(x-2)(x-4),$ with roots $-1,2,$ and $4.$ The largest is $4.$

Thus, A is the correct answer.

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