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Difference between revisions of "1952 AHSME Problems/Problem 1"
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Let the radius of the circle be the common fraction <math>\frac{a}{b}.</math> Then the area of the circle is <math>\pi \cdot \frac{a^2}{b^2}.</math>
 
Let the radius of the circle be the common fraction <math>\frac{a}{b}.</math> Then the area of the circle is <math>\pi \cdot \frac{a^2}{b^2}.</math>
 
Because <math>\pi</math> is irrational and <math>\frac{a^2}{b^2}</math> is rational, their product must be irrational. The answer is <math>\boxed{B}.</math>
 
Because <math>\pi</math> is irrational and <math>\frac{a^2}{b^2}</math> is rational, their product must be irrational. The answer is <math>\boxed{B}.</math>
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==Solution 2==
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The phrasing of the problem makes it clear that the rule would apply to all rational radii. So let r be equal to one. <math>\pi</math> times 1 squared is equal to <math>\pi</math> which is irrational. Therefore, the answer is <math>\boxed{B}.</math>
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~YJC64002776
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==See also==
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{{AHSME 50p box|year=1952|before=First Question|num-a=2}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 10:34, 19 January 2021

Problem

If the radius of a circle is a rational number, its area is given by a number which is:

$\textbf{(A)\ } \text{rational} \qquad \textbf{(B)\ } \text{irrational} \qquad \textbf{(C)\ } \text{integral} \qquad \textbf{(D)\ } \text{a perfect square }\qquad \textbf{(E)\ } \text{none of these}$

Solution

Let the radius of the circle be the common fraction $\frac{a}{b}.$ Then the area of the circle is $\pi \cdot \frac{a^2}{b^2}.$ Because $\pi$ is irrational and $\frac{a^2}{b^2}$ is rational, their product must be irrational. The answer is $\boxed{B}.$

Solution 2

The phrasing of the problem makes it clear that the rule would apply to all rational radii. So let r be equal to one. $\pi$ times 1 squared is equal to $\pi$ which is irrational. Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{B}.$

~YJC64002776

See also

1952 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
First Question 		Followed by
Problem 2
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 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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