Question

The parabolas $y = ax^2 - 2$ and $y = 4 - bx^2$ intersect the coordinate axes in exactly four points, and these four points are the vertices of a kite of area $12.$ What is $a + b?$

$1$

$1.5$

$2$

$2.5$

$3$

Solution:

The $y$ -intercepts of the two parabolas are $-2$ and $4.$ To intersect the $x$ -axis, the first parabola opens upward and the second opens downward, so their $x$ -intercepts are $\pm t$ for some $t \gt 0.$

The kite has one diagonal of length $4 - (-2) = 6$ along the $y$ -axis and the other of length $2t.$ Its area is $\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot 6\cdot 2t = 6t = 12,$ so $t = 2.$

Thus the $x$ -intercepts are $\pm 2.$ For the first parabola, $0 = a(2)^2 - 2$ gives $a = \dfrac{1}{2};$ for the second, $0 = 4 - b(2)^2$ gives $b = 1.$ Therefore $a + b = 1.5.$

Thus, the correct answer is B.

2015 AMC 12A Problem 12

Solution:

Problem 12 in Other Years