1962 AMC 12 Problem 26

Attempt Problem 26 of the 1962 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 1962 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

26.

For any real value of xx the maximum value of 8x−3x28x-3x^2 is:
00
83\dfrac83
44
55
163\dfrac{16}{3}
Answer: E
Concepts:quadraticcompleting the squareoptimization
Small hint:
Complete the square in 8x−3x28x-3x^2
Big hint:
A negative square is largest when it equals 00
Solution:
Completing the square, 8x−3x2=163−3(x−43)2. 8x-3x^2 =\frac{16}{3}-3\left(x-\frac43\right)^2. The square term is nonnegative, so the maximum is 163.\frac{16}{3}.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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