1973 AMC 12 Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 1973 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 1973 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

13.

The fraction 2(2+6)32+3 \frac{2(\sqrt2+\sqrt6)}{3\sqrt{2+\sqrt3}} is equal to
223\dfrac{2\sqrt2}{3}
11
233\dfrac{2\sqrt3}{3}
43\dfrac43
169\dfrac{16}{9}
Answer: D
Concepts:radicalalgebraic manipulation
Small hint:
All quantities are positive, so compare the square of the fraction with the squares of the choices
Big hint:
Use (2+6)2=8+43(\sqrt2+\sqrt6)^2=8+4\sqrt3
Solution:
The fraction is positive, and its square is 4(2+6)29(2+3)=4(8+43)9(2+3)=16(2+3)9(2+3)=169. \begin{aligned} &\frac{4(\sqrt2+\sqrt6)^2} {9(2+\sqrt3)}\\ &\quad=\frac{4(8+4\sqrt3)} {9(2+\sqrt3)}\\ &\quad=\frac{16(2+\sqrt3)} {9(2+\sqrt3)}\\ &\quad=\frac{16}{9}. \end{aligned} Therefore the original fraction is 43.\frac{4}{3}.
Therefore, the correct answer is D.
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