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Algebra Difficulty 4.8 AIME Find the answer

4. The graph of the inverse function of y=axxa1y=\frac{a-x}{x-a-1} is symmetric about the point (1,4)(-1,4). Then the real number aa equals:

Pick one

Solution

4. B. Given y=axxa1=11x(a+1)y=\frac{a-x}{x-a-1}=-1-\frac{1}{x-(a+1)}, the center of symmetry is ((a+1),1)((a+1),-1). The center of symmetry of its inverse function is (1,(a+1))a+1=4a=3(-1,(a+1)) \Rightarrow a+1=4 \Rightarrow a=3.

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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.