Difference between revisions of "2006 Cyprus MO/Lyceum/Problem 6"

(typo?? w/e, I'll just pretend that the 7 = 8)
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==Problem==
 
==Problem==
The value of the expression <math>K=\sqrt{19+7\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{7+4\sqrt{3}}</math> is
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The value of the expression <math>K=\sqrt{19+8\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{7+4\sqrt{3}}</math> is
  
 
A. <math>4</math>
 
A. <math>4</math>
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B. <math>4\sqrt{3}</math>
 
B. <math>4\sqrt{3}</math>
  
C. <math>12+4\sqrt{3}</math>
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C. <math>12+4\sqrt{3}</math>
  
 
D. <math>-2</math>
 
D. <math>-2</math>
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
{{solution}}
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Suppose that <math>19 + 8\sqrt{3}</math> can be written in the form of <math>(a+b\sqrt{3})^2</math>, in order to eliminate the [[square root]]. Then <math>19 = a^2 + 3b^2</math> and <math>2ab\sqrt{3} = 8\sqrt{3} \Longrightarrow ab = 4</math>, and we quickly find that <math>19 + 8\sqrt{3} = (4+\sqrt{3})^2</math>. Doing the same on the second radical gets us <math>(2 + \sqrt{3})^2</math>. Thus the expression evaluates to <math>\sqrt{(4+ \sqrt{3})^2} - \sqrt{(2 + \sqrt{3})^2} = 4 + \sqrt{3} - 2 - \sqrt{3} = 2\ \mathrm{(E)}</math>.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
{{CYMO box|year=2006|l=Lyceum|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{CYMO box|year=2006|l=Lyceum|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
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[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]

Revision as of 17:53, 19 October 2007

Problem

The value of the expression $K=\sqrt{19+8\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{7+4\sqrt{3}}$ is

A. $4$

B. $4\sqrt{3}$

C. $12+4\sqrt{3}$

D. $-2$

E. $2$

Solution

Suppose that $19 + 8\sqrt{3}$ can be written in the form of $(a+b\sqrt{3})^2$, in order to eliminate the square root. Then $19 = a^2 + 3b^2$ and $2ab\sqrt{3} = 8\sqrt{3} \Longrightarrow ab = 4$, and we quickly find that $19 + 8\sqrt{3} = (4+\sqrt{3})^2$. Doing the same on the second radical gets us $(2 + \sqrt{3})^2$. Thus the expression evaluates to $\sqrt{(4+ \sqrt{3})^2} - \sqrt{(2 + \sqrt{3})^2} = 4 + \sqrt{3} - 2 - \sqrt{3} = 2\ \mathrm{(E)}$.

See also

2006 Cyprus MO, Lyceum (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 5
Followed by
Problem 7
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