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2017 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 23

Problem

The graph of $y=f(x)$, where $f(x)$ is a polynomial of degree $3$, contains points $A(2,4)$, $B(3,9)$, and $C(4,16)$. Lines $AB$, $AC$, and $BC$ intersect the graph again at points $D$, $E$, and $F$, respectively, and the sum of the $x$-coordinates of $D$, $E$, and $F$ is 24. What is $f(0)$?

$\textbf{(A)}\quad {-2} \qquad \qquad \textbf{(B)}\quad 0 \qquad\qquad \textbf{(C)}\quad 2 \qquad\qquad \textbf{(D)}\quad \dfrac{24}5 \qquad\qquad\textbf{(E)}\quad 8$

Solution 1

Note that $f(x) - x^2$ has roots $2, 3$, and $4$. Therefore, we may write $f(x) = a(x-2)(x-3)(x-4) +x^2$. Now we find that lines $AB$, $AC$, and $BC$ are defined by the equations $y = 5x - 6$, $y= 6x-8$, and $y=7x-12$ respectively.

Since we want to find the $x$-coordinates of the intersections of these lines and $f(x)$, we set each of them to $f(x)$ and synthetically divide by the solutions we already know exist.

In the case of line $AB$, we may write $a(x-2)(x-3)(x-4)+x^2-5x+6 = a(x-2)(x-3)(x-r_1)$ for some real number $r_1$. Dividing both sides by $(x-2)(x-3)$ gives $a(x-4)+1 = a(x-r_1)$ or $r_1 = \frac {4a-1}{a}$.

For line $AC$, we have $a(x-2)(x-3)(x-4)+x^2-6x+8 = a(x-2)(x-4)(x-r_2)$ for some real number $r_2$, which gives $a(x-3)+1 = a(x-r_2)$ or $r_2 = \frac {3a-1}{a}$.

For line $BC$, we have $a(x-2)(x-3)(x-4)+x^2-7x+12 = a(x-3)(x-4)(x-r_3)$ for some real number $r_3$, which gives $a(x-2)+1 = a(x-r_3)$ or $r_3 = \frac {2a-1}{a}$.

Since $r_1 + r_2 + r_3 = 24$, we have $\frac {4a-1}{a} + \frac {3a-1}{a} + \frac {2a-1}{a} = 24$ or $\frac {9a-3}{a} = 24$. Solving for $a$ gives $a = - \frac{1}{5}$.

Substituting this back into the original equation, we get $f(x) = -\frac{1}{5}(x-2)(x-3)(x-4) + x^2$, and $f(0) = -\frac{1}{5}(-2)(-3)(-4) + 0 = \boxed{\textbf{(D)}\frac{24}{5}}$

Solution by vedadehhc

Solution 2

$\boxed{\textbf{No need to find the equations for the lines, really.}}$ First of all, $f(x) = a(x-2)(x-3)(x-4) +x^2$. Let's say the line $AB$ is $y=bx+c$, and $x_1$ is the $x$ coordinate of the third intersection, then $2$, $3$, and $x_1$ are the three roots of $f(x) - bx-c$. The values of $b$ and $c$ have no effect on the sum of the 3 roots, because the coefficient of the $x^2$ term is always $-9a+1$. So we have \[\frac{9a-1}{a} = 2 + 3 + x_1= 3 + 4 + x_2 = 2 + 4 + x_3\] Adding all three equations up, we get \[3\left(\frac{9a-1}{a}\right) = 18 + x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = 18 + 24\] Solving this equation, we get $a = -\frac{1}{5}$. We finish as Solution 1 does. $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\frac{24}{5}}$.

- Mathdummy

Cleaned up by SSding

See Also

2017 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 22 		Followed by
Problem 24
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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