1994 AMC 12 Problem 28

Attempt Problem 28 of the 1994 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 1994 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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28.

In the xyxy-plane, how many lines whose xx-intercept is a positive prime number and whose yy-intercept is a positive integer pass through the point (4,3)?(4,3)?
00
11
22
33
44
Answer: C
Concepts:intercept formprimesdivisibility
Small hint:
Let the intercepts be pp and qq, and use 4p+3q=1\frac{4}{p}+\frac{3}{q}=1
Big hint:
Rearrange to q=3+12p−4q=3+\frac{12}{p-4}
Solution:
Let the xx-intercept be the prime pp and the yy-intercept be the positive integer q.q. Intercept form gives 4p+3q=1,q=3pp−4=3+12p−4. \begin{gathered} \frac4p+\frac3q=1, \\ q=\frac{3p}{p-4}=3+\frac{12}{p-4}. \end{gathered} Thus p−4p-4 is a positive divisor of 12.12. Testing 1,2,3,4,6,121,2,3,4,6,12 gives prime pp only for p=5p=5 and p=7.p=7. Therefore there are 22 lines. Thus the correct answer is C.
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