Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 125 of 400 #725 of 1964

Problem 725

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.3 Find the answer

Example 2. Solve the system of equations
{x+y=2,x+y=1 \left\{\begin{array}{l} |x|+|y|=2, \\ |x+y|=1 \end{array}\right.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

Solve when x+y>0x+y>0,
{x+y=2,x+y=1]{x+1x=2,x+y=1. \Rightarrow\left\{\begin{array}{l} |x|+|y|=2, \\ |x+y|=1 \end{array}\right]\left\{\begin{array}{l} |x|+|1-x|=2, \\ x+y=1 . \end{array}\right.

The points x=0,x=1x=0, x=1 divide the number line into three segments: (,0)(-\infty, 0), [0,1)[0,1), [1,+)[1,+\infty), yielding the solutions of the system of equations as
{x=32,x=12,y=12,y=32. \left\{\begin{array}{ll} x=\frac{3}{2}, & x=-\frac{1}{2}, \\ y=-\frac{1}{2}, & y=\frac{3}{2} . \end{array}\right.

Similarly, when x+y<0x+y<0, the solutions of the system of equations are
{x=12,y=32,{x=32,y=12. \left\{\begin{array} { l } { x = - \frac { 1 } { 2 } , } \\ { y = - \frac { 3 } { 2 } , } \end{array} \left\{\begin{array}{l} x=-\frac{3}{2}, \\ y=\frac{1}{2} . \end{array}\right.\right.

The above sets of solutions are the solutions to the system of equations.

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