MathDB
1987 AMC 12 #18 - Math Books on a Shelf

Source:

December 31, 2011
geometryAMC

Problem Statement

It takes AA algebra books (all the same thickness) and HH geometry books (all the same thickness, which is greater than that of an algebra book) to completely fill a certain shelf. Also, SS of the algebra books and MM of the geometry books would fill the same shelf. Finally, EE of the algebra books alone would fill this shelf. Given that A,H,S,M,EA, H, S, M, E are distinct positive integers, it follows that EE is
<spanclass=latexbold>(A)</span> AM+SHM+H<spanclass=latexbold>(B)</span> AM2+SH2M2+H2<spanclass=latexbold>(C)</span> AHSMMH<spanclass=latexbold>(D)</span> AMSHMH<spanclass=latexbold>(E)</span> AM2SH2M2H2 <span class='latex-bold'>(A)</span>\ \frac{AM+SH}{M+H} \qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(B)</span>\ \frac{AM^2+SH^2}{M^2+H^2} \qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(C)</span>\ \frac{AH-SM}{M-H} \qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(D)</span>\ \frac{AM-SH}{M-H} \qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(E)</span>\ \frac{AM^2-SH^2}{M^2-H^2}