Difference between revisions of "1991 AHSME Problems/Problem 21"

(Problem)
(Solution)
 
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
 +
Let <math>y=\frac{x}{x-1} \Rightarrow xy-y=x \Rightarrow x=\frac{y}{y-1}</math>
 +
 +
<math>f(y)=\frac{1}{x}=\frac{y-1}{y}=1-\frac{1}{y}</math>
 +
 +
<math>f(sec^2t)=sin^2t</math>
 +
 
<math>\fbox{A}</math>
 
<math>\fbox{A}</math>
  

Latest revision as of 20:56, 17 October 2016

Problem

For all real numbers $x$ except $x=0$ and $x=1$ the function $f(x)$ is defined by $f(x/(x-1))=1/x$. Suppose $0\leq t\leq \pi/2$. What is the value of $f(\sec^2t)$?

$\text{(A) } sin^2\theta\quad \text{(B) } cos^2\theta\quad \text{(C) } tan^2\theta\quad \text{(D) } cot^2\theta\quad \text{(E) } csc^2\theta$

Solution

Let $y=\frac{x}{x-1} \Rightarrow xy-y=x \Rightarrow x=\frac{y}{y-1}$

$f(y)=\frac{1}{x}=\frac{y-1}{y}=1-\frac{1}{y}$

$f(sec^2t)=sin^2t$

$\fbox{A}$

See also

1991 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
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
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png