2021 IMC Singapore

IMC Singapore Problem-Solving Series (SELECTED PROBLEMS)

1. Determine a second degree function y=a x2 +bx +c whose graph passes through M ( 0,1 )and
intersects with x-axis at points A and B. Likewise, the sum of the square of the x-coordinates of A and B is 6
with N as the vertex of the graph which is located at x-axis and S∆ MAB : S∆ NAB =1:2.

SOLUTION: 
Since M ( 0,1 ), then c=1.
 
⟹ y=a x 2 +bx +1
 
Let A( x 1 , 0) and B ( x2 , 0 )such that x 12+ x 22=6
 
By Vieta's Theorem
−b 2 1
2
⟹ x12 + x 22=( x 1+ x2 ) −2 x 1 x 2= ( ) ()
a
−2
a
b 2 2 b 2−2 a
⟹ − = =6
a2 a a2
 
By Shoelace Theorem,
 
For S∆ MAB ,
1 x
⟹ |(−x 1 )|⟺ 1 =S ∆ MAB
2 2
 
−b −b
For S∆ NAB ,we have N
( 2a
,f ( ))
2a
, A( x 1 , 0) and B ( x2 , 0 ) .
 
Since N is the coordinate of the vertex of the graph y, let us find the coordinates:
 
−b
By rule, x-coordinate of the vertex (or the axis of symmetry) is x= .
2a
 
−b
To find the y-coordinate of the vertex, substitute y with x= ,we have:
2a
 
⟹ y=a x 2 +bx +1
−b 2 −b
⟹ y=a
2a ( ) ( )
+b
2a
+1

b2 b2
⟹ y= − +1
4 a 2a
−b2 4 a−b 2 −b
⟹ y=
4a
+1⟺
4a
=f
2a ( )
2
Finding the area of
[(
S∆ NAB ,by Shoelace Theorem: N −b , 4 a−b , A (x1 , 0)∧B ( x2 , 0 ) .
2a 4a ) ]
REVIEW

4 a−b2
⟹
1
2 [(
x1
4a )]
=S ∆ NAB
2021 IMC Singapore

2. Refer to the isosceles right-angled ∆ ABC at the figure shown, AC=BC , D and E are two points on
hypotenuse AB, ∠ DCE=45° , AE=3 , BD =5. Determine the length of DE ´ .
A

C B

SOLUTION:
REVIEW