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Algebra Difficulty 3.0 Junior Find the answer

Suppose that k>0k>0 and that the line with equation y=3kx+4k2y=3kx+4k^{2} intersects the parabola with equation y=x2y=x^{2} at points PP and QQ. If OO is the origin and the area of riangleOPQ riangle OPQ is 80, then what is the slope of the line?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

First, we find the coordinates of the points PP and QQ in terms of kk by finding the points of intersection of the graphs with equations y=x2y=x^{2} and y=3kx+4k2y=3kx+4k^{2}. Equating values of yy, we obtain x2=3kx+4k2x^{2}=3kx+4k^{2} or x23kx4k2=0x^{2}-3kx-4k^{2}=0. We rewrite the left side as x24kx+kx+(4k)(k)=0x^{2}-4kx+kx+(-4k)(k)=0 which allows us to factor and obtain (x4k)(x+k)=0(x-4k)(x+k)=0 and so x=4kx=4k or x=kx=-k. Since k>0k>0, PP is in the second quadrant and QQ is in the first quadrant, then PP has xx-coordinate k-k (which is negative). Since PP lies on y=x2y=x^{2}, then its yy-coordinate is (k)2=k2(-k)^{2}=k^{2} and so the coordinates of PP are (k,k2)(-k, k^{2}). Since QQ lies on y=x2y=x^{2} and has xx-coordinate 4k4k, then its yy-coordinate is (4k)2=16k2(4k)^{2}=16k^{2} and so the coordinates of QQ are (4k,16k2)(4k, 16k^{2}). Our next step is to determine the area of riangleOPQ riangle OPQ in terms of kk. Since the area of riangleOPQ riangle OPQ is numerically equal to 80, this will give us an equation for kk which will allow us to find the slope of the line. To find the area of riangleOPQ riangle OPQ in terms of kk, we drop perpendiculars from PP and QQ to SS and TT, respectively, on the xx-axis. The area of riangleOPQ riangle OPQ is equal to the area of trapezoid PSTQPSTQ minus the areas of rianglePSO riangle PSO and riangleQTO riangle QTO. Trapezoid PSTQPSTQ has parallel bases SPSP and TQTQ and perpendicular height STST. Since the coordinates of PP are (k,k2)(-k, k^{2}), then SP=k2SP=k^{2}. Since the coordinates of QQ are (4k,16k2)(4k, 16k^{2}), then TQ=16k2TQ=16k^{2}. Also, ST=4k(k)=5kST=4k-(-k)=5k. Thus, the area of trapezoid PSTQPSTQ is 12(SP+TQ)(ST)=12(k2+16k2)(5k)=852k3\frac{1}{2}(SP+TQ)(ST)=\frac{1}{2}(k^{2}+16k^{2})(5k)=\frac{85}{2}k^{3}. rianglePSO riangle PSO is right-angled at SS and so has area 12(SP)(SO)=12(k2)(0(k))=12k3\frac{1}{2}(SP)(SO)=\frac{1}{2}(k^{2})(0-(-k))=\frac{1}{2}k^{3}. riangleQTO riangle QTO is right-angled at TT and so has area 12(TQ)(TO)=12(16k2)(4k0)=32k3\frac{1}{2}(TQ)(TO)=\frac{1}{2}(16k^{2})(4k-0)=32k^{3}. Combining these, the area of rianglePOQ riangle POQ equals 852k312k332k3=10k3\frac{85}{2}k^{3}-\frac{1}{2}k^{3}-32k^{3}=10k^{3}. Since this area equals 80, then 10k3=8010k^{3}=80 or k3=8k^{3}=8 and so k=2k=2. This means that the slope of the line is 3k3k which equals 6.

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