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Difference between revisions of "1958 AHSME Problems/Problem 46"

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From <math>\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2x - 2}</math>, we can further factor <math>\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2(x - 1)}</math> and then <math>\frac{(x-1)^{2}+1}{2(x - 1)}</math> and finally <math>\frac{x-1}{2}+\frac{1}{2x-2}</math>. Using <math>AM-GM</math>, we can see that <math>\frac{x-1}{2}=\frac{1}{2x-2}</math>. From there, we can get that <math>2=2 \cdot (x-1)^{2}</math>.
 
From <math>\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2x - 2}</math>, we can further factor <math>\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2(x - 1)}</math> and then <math>\frac{(x-1)^{2}+1}{2(x - 1)}</math> and finally <math>\frac{x-1}{2}+\frac{1}{2x-2}</math>. Using <math>AM-GM</math>, we can see that <math>\frac{x-1}{2}=\frac{1}{2x-2}</math>. From there, we can get that <math>2=2 \cdot (x-1)^{2}</math>.
  
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From there, we get that <math>x</math> is either <math>2</math> or <math>0</math>. Substituting both of them in, you get that if <math>x=2</math>, then the value is <math>1</math>. If you plug in the value of <math>x=0</math>, you get the value of <math>-1</math>. So the answer is <math>\textbf{(D)}</math>
+
From there, we get that <math>x</math> is either <math>2</math> or <math>0</math>. Substituting both of them in, you get that if <math>x=2</math>, then the value is <math>1</math>. If you plug in the value of <math>x=0</math>, you get the value of <math>-1</math>. So the answer is <math>\textbf{(E)}</math>
  
 
Solution by: the_referee
 
Solution by: the_referee

Latest revision as of 00:35, 12 October 2021

Problem

For values of $x$ less than $1$ but greater than $-4$, the expression $\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2x - 2}$ has:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{no maximum or minimum value}\qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{a minimum value of }{+1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{a maximum value of }{+1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{a minimum value of }{-1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{a maximum value of }{-1}$

Solution

From $\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2x - 2}$, we can further factor $\frac{x^2 - 2x + 2}{2(x - 1)}$ and then $\frac{(x-1)^{2}+1}{2(x - 1)}$ and finally $\frac{x-1}{2}+\frac{1}{2x-2}$. Using $AM-GM$, we can see that $\frac{x-1}{2}=\frac{1}{2x-2}$. From there, we can get that $2=2 \cdot (x-1)^{2}$.

From there, we get that $x$ is either $2$ or $0$. Substituting both of them in, you get that if $x=2$, then the value is $1$. If you plug in the value of $x=0$, you get the value of $-1$. So the answer is $\textbf{(E)}$

Solution by: the_referee

See Also

1958 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 45 		Followed by
Problem 47
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All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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