1960 AMC 12 Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 1960 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 1960 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

14.

If aa and bb are real numbers, the equation 3x−5+a=bx+13x-5+a=bx+1 has a unique solution xx [the symbol a≠0a\ne0 means that aa is different from zero]:
for all aa and bb
if a≠2ba\ne2b
if a≠6a\ne6
if b≠0b\ne0
if b≠3b\ne3
Answer: E
Concepts:linear equation
Small hint:
Collect the xx-terms on one side
Big hint:
A linear equation has a unique solution when the coefficient of xx is nonzero
Solution:
Rearranging gives (3−b)x=6−a. (3-b)x=6-a. This has a unique solution exactly when 3−b≠0,3-b\ne0, or b≠3.b\ne3.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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