2021 AMC 12A Fall Problem 13

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 13 of the 2021 AMC 12A Fall, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 12A Fall solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:angle bisectorvectorrationalizing denominator

Difficulty rating: 1660

13.

The angle bisector of the acute angle formed at the origin by the graphs of the lines y=xy = x and y=3xy = 3x has equation y=kx.y = kx. What is k?k?

1+52\dfrac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{2}

1+72\dfrac{1 + \sqrt{7}}{2}

2+32\dfrac{2 + \sqrt{3}}{2}

22

2+52\dfrac{2 + \sqrt{5}}{2}

Solution:

The bisector points along the sum of the unit vectors of the two lines: (1,1)2+(1,3)10.\dfrac{(1,1)}{\sqrt2} + \dfrac{(1,3)}{\sqrt{10}}. Its slope is k=12+31012+110=5+35+1. k = \frac{\tfrac{1}{\sqrt2} + \tfrac{3}{\sqrt{10}}}{\tfrac{1}{\sqrt2} + \tfrac{1}{\sqrt{10}}} = \frac{\sqrt5 + 3}{\sqrt5 + 1}.

Multiplying numerator and denominator by 51\sqrt5 - 1 gives (5+3)(51)4=2+254=1+52.\dfrac{(\sqrt5 + 3)(\sqrt5 - 1)}{4} = \dfrac{2 + 2\sqrt5}{4} = \dfrac{1 + \sqrt5}{2}.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

Problem 13 in Other Years