Maths Olympiad Prep

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Algebra Difficulty 2.8 Junior Find the answer

Given the hyperbola x2a2y29=1(a>0)\frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}} - \frac{y^{2}}{9} = 1 (a > 0) with asymptote equations 3x±2y=03x \pm 2y = 0, find the value of aa:

Pick one

Solution

Analysis

This problem primarily tests your understanding of the standard equation of a hyperbola and the application of its basic properties. Utilizing the standard equation of the hyperbola, we can derive the equations of its asymptotes and compare them with the given conditions to find the answer. This is considered a basic-level problem.

Step-by-step Solution

1. The standard equation of the hyperbola is given by x2a2y29=1\frac{x^{2}}{a^{2}} - \frac{y^{2}}{9} = 1.
2. From the standard equation, we can derive the equations of the asymptotes, given by y=±3axy = \pm \frac{3}{a}x or 3x±ay=03x \pm ay = 0.
3. Comparing the derived asymptote equations with the given asymptote equations (3x±2y=03x \pm 2y = 0), we can deduce that a=2a = 2.

Therefore, select option A: 2\boxed{2}.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.