Mathematical and Physical Journal
for High Schools
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Problem C. 1620. (September 2020)

C. 1620. Jack Russell fashioned a springboard in his back yard. He carried out measurements to determine that by bending the springboard \(\displaystyle x\) decimetres below horizontal, he could jump to a height of \(\displaystyle 0.5x^2+ax+b\) decimetres. Unfortunately, he forgot the values of \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\). He only remembers that bending by \(\displaystyle 10\) cm let him jump \(\displaystyle 35\) cm, and a deformation four times as large resulted in a jump four times as high. What may have been Jack's measured values of \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\)?

(5 pont)

Deadline expired on October 12, 2020.


Sorry, the solution is available only in Hungarian. Google translation

Megoldás. Legyen \(\displaystyle f(x)=0,5x^2+ax+b\). A feltételek alapján \(\displaystyle f(1)=3,5\) és \(\displaystyle f(4)=f(4\cdot 1)=4\cdot 3,5=14\), vagyis:

\(\displaystyle 0,5\cdot 1+a+b=3,5,\)

\(\displaystyle 0,5\cdot 16+4a+b=14.\)

Az egyenleteket rendezve:

\(\displaystyle a+b=3,\)

\(\displaystyle 4a+b=6.\)

A második egyenletből az elsőt kivonva, majd 3-mal osztva megkapjuk \(\displaystyle a\) értékét:

\(\displaystyle a=\frac{6-3}{2}=1.\)

A kapott értéket (például) az első egyenletbe visszahelyettesítve \(\displaystyle b\) értéke is adódik:

\(\displaystyle b=3-a=2.\)

Behelyettesítéssel látható, hogy \(\displaystyle a=1,\quad b=2\) esetén mindkét fenti egyenlet valóban teljesül. Tehát Mekk Elek a következő értékeket határozta meg:

\(\displaystyle a=1,\quad b=2.\)


Statistics:

355 students sent a solution.
5 points:286 students.
4 points:12 students.
3 points:35 students.
2 points:4 students.
1 point:3 students.
0 point:8 students.
Unfair, not evaluated:4 solutionss.
Not shown because of missing birth date or parental permission:3 solutions.

Problems in Mathematics of KöMaL, September 2020