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Algebra Difficulty 3.9 AMC 10/12 Find the answer Italy

Let xx and yy be real numbers such that x2+4y2=1x^{2} + 4 y^{2} = 1; what is the minimum value of x+2y|x| + 2|y|?

Pick one

Solution

The answer is (B). Indeed, the quantity x+2y|x| + 2|y| is non-negative and its square equals x2+4y2+4xyx2+4y2=1x^{2} + 4 y^{2} + 4|x||y| \geq x^{2} + 4 y^{2} = 1, so also x+2y1|x| + 2|y| \geq 1. This value can actually be achieved (exactly when xy=0|x||y| = 0, that is if x=±1,y=0x = \pm 1, y = 0 or x=0,y=±12x = 0, y = \pm \frac{1}{2}), and it is therefore the minimum possible.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement translated into English from it; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.