# 2005 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 23

## Problem

Let $S$ be the set of ordered triples $(x,y,z)$ of real numbers for which

$$\log_{10}(x+y) = z \text{ and } \log_{10}(x^{2}+y^{2}) = z+1.$$ There are real numbers $a$ and $b$ such that for all ordered triples $(x,y.z)$ in $S$ we have $x^{3}+y^{3}=a \cdot 10^{3z} + b \cdot 10^{2z}.$ What is the value of $a+b?$

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac {15}{2} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac {29}{2} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 15 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac {39}{2} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 24$

## Solution 1

Let $x + y = s$ and $x^2 + y^2 = t$. Then, $\log(s)=z$ implies $\log(10s) = z+1= \log(t)$,so $t=10s$. Therefore, $x^3 + y^3 = s\cdot\dfrac{3t-s^2}{2} = s(15s-\dfrac{s^2}{2})$. Since $s = 10^z$, we find that $x^3 + y^3 = 15\cdot10^{2z} - (1/2)\cdot10^{3z}$. Thus, $a+b = \frac{29}{2}$ $\Rightarrow$ $\boxed{B}$

## Solution 2

First, remember that $x^3 + y^3$ factors to $(x + y) (x^2 - xy + y^2)$. By the givens, $x + y = 10^z$ and $x^2 + y^2 = 10^{z + 1}$. These can be used to find $xy$: $$(x + y)^2 = 10^{2z}$$ $$x^2 + 2xy + y^2 = 10^{2z}$$ $$2xy = 10^{2z} - 10^{z + 1}$$ $$xy = \frac{10^{2z} - 10^{z + 1}}{2}$$

Therefore, $$x^3 + y^3 = a \cdot 10^{3z} + b \cdot 10^{2z} = 10^z\left(10^{z + 1} - \frac{10^{2z} - 10^{z + 1}}{2}\right)$$ $$= 10^z\left(10^{z + 1} - \frac{10^{2z} - 10^{z + 1}}{2}\right)$$ $$= 10^{2z + 1} - \frac{10^{3z} - 10^{2z + 1}}{2}$$ $$= -\frac{1}{2} \cdot 10^{3z} + \frac{3}{2} \cdot 10^{2z + 1}$$ $$= -\frac{1}{2} \cdot 10^{3z} + 15 \cdot 10^{2z}.$$

It follows that $a = -\frac{1}{2}$ and $b = 15$, thus $a + b = \frac{29}{2}.$

## Solution 3

We can rearrange $\log_{10}(x+y)=z$ into $x+y=10^{z}$ and $\log_{10}(x^2+y^2)=z+1$ into $x^2+y^2=10^{z+1}$

We can then put $x+y$ to the third power or $(x+y)^{3}=10^{3z}$. Basic polynomial multiplication shows us that $(x+y)^{3}=x^3+3x^{2}y+3xy^{2}+y^3=10^{3z}$ Thus, $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3x^{2}y-3xy^{2}$ or $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3xy(x+y)$. We know that $x+y=10^{z}$ so we have $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3xy(10^{z})$.

Now we need to find out what $xy$ is equal to in terms of $z$. We will find $xy$ by squaring $x+y$. It is basic polynomial multiplication to figure out that $(x+y)^{2}=x^2+2xy+y^2$. We are also given that $x^2+y^2=10^{z+1}$ and $x+y=10^{z}$. Thus $(10^{z})^{2}=10^{z+1}+2xy$ or $10^{2z}=10^{z+1}+2xy$. Rearranging the terms of this equation we obtain that $xy=\frac{10^{2z}-10^{z+1}}{2}$ or $xy=\frac{10^z(10^z-10)}{2}$. Now plugging this equation into our original equation $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3xy(10^{z})$, we obtain the equation $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3(\frac{10^z(10^z-10)}{2})(10^{z})$ Simple rearranging of this equation yields the result that $x^3+y^3=10^{3z}-3(\frac{10^{3z}}{2})+30(\frac{10^{2z}}{2})$. Combining like terms we obtain the equation $x^3+y^3= -(\frac{10^{3z}}{2})+30(\frac{10^{2z}}{2})$.

Now we know the coefficients of $10^{3z}$ and $10^{2z}$ which are $\frac{-1}{2}$ and $\frac{30}{2}$ respectively. Adding the two coefficients we obtain an answer of $\frac{29}{2}.$ $\Rightarrow$ $\boxed{B}$ (Author: David Camacho)

## Solution 4 (Alcumus)

From the given conditions it follows that$x+y=10^z, \quad x^2+y^2=10\cdot 10^z\quad\text{and}\quad 10^{2z}=(x+y)^2=x^2+2xy+y^2. \[$\] (Error compiling LaTeX. ! LaTeX Error: Bad math environment delimiter.)

Thus$$xy=\frac{1}{2}(10^{2z}-10\cdot 10^z).$$Also$$(x+y)^3=10^{3z}\quad\text{and}\quad x^3+y^3=(x+y)^3-3xy(x+y),$$which yields\begin{align*} x^3+y^3&=10^{3z}-\frac{3}{2}(10^{2z}-10\cdot 10^z)(10^z) \\ &=10^{3z}-\frac{3}{2}(10^{3z}-10\cdot 10^{2z}) =-\frac{1}{2}10^{3z}+15\cdot 10^{2z}, \end{align*}and $a+b=-\frac{1}{2}+15=\boxed{29/2}$.

No other value of $a + b$ is possible for all members of $S$, because the triple $\left(\frac{1}{2}(1 + \sqrt{19}), \frac{1}{2}(1 - \sqrt{19}), 0\right)$ is in $S$, and for this ordered triple, the equation $x^3 + y^3 = a\cdot 10^{3z} + b\cdot 10^{2z}$ reduces to $a + b = 29/2$.

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