1950 AMC 12 Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 1950 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1950 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

10.

After rationalizing the numerator of 3−23,\dfrac{\sqrt3-\sqrt2}{\sqrt3}, the denominator in simplest form is:
3(3+2)\sqrt3(\sqrt3+\sqrt2)
3(3−2)\sqrt3(\sqrt3-\sqrt2)
3−323-\sqrt3\sqrt2
3+63+\sqrt6
None of these answers
Answer: D
Concepts:rationalizing denominatorradical
Small hint:
Multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the numerator
Big hint:
The numerator becomes (3−2)(3+2)=1(\sqrt3-\sqrt2)(\sqrt3+\sqrt2)=1
Solution:
Multiplying by the conjugate of the numerator gives 3−23⋅3+23+2=13(3+2)=13+6. \begin{aligned} &\frac{\sqrt3-\sqrt2}{\sqrt3} \cdot\frac{\sqrt3+\sqrt2}{\sqrt3+\sqrt2}\\ &=\frac{1}{\sqrt3(\sqrt3+\sqrt2)}\\ &=\frac{1}{3+\sqrt6}. \end{aligned}
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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