Question

Two nonhorizontal, non-vertical lines in the $xy$ -coordinate plane intersect to form a $45^\circ$ angle. One line has slope equal to $6$ times the slope of the other line. What is the greatest possible value of the product of the slopes of the two lines?

$\dfrac16$

$\dfrac23$

$\dfrac32$

$3$

$6$

Solution:

Let the slopes be $m$ and $6m.$ The angle between the lines satisfies $\left|\frac{6m - m}{1 + 6m^2}\right| = \tan 45^\circ = 1,$ so $5m = \pm(1 + 6m^2),$ giving $6m^2 - 5m + 1 = 0$ or $6m^2 + 5m + 1 = 0.$

The first yields $m = \tfrac12$ or $m = \tfrac13;$ the second yields the negatives of these. The product of the slopes is $6m^2,$ which is largest when $m = \tfrac12,$ giving $6 \cdot \tfrac14 = \tfrac32.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

2020 AMC 12B Problem 7

Solution:

Problem 7 in Other Years