# 2019 AIME I Problems/Problem 8

## Problem

Let $x$ be a real number such that $\sin^{10}x+\cos^{10} x = \tfrac{11}{36}$. Then $\sin^{12}x+\cos^{12} x = \tfrac{m}{n}$ where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m+n$.

## Solution 1

We can substitute $y = \sin^2{x}$. Since we know that $\cos^2{x}=1-\sin^2{x}$, we can do some simplification.

This yields $y^5+(1-y)^5=\frac{11}{36}$. From this, we can substitute again to get some cancellation through binomials. If we let $z=\frac{1}{2}-y$, we can simplify the equation to $(\frac{1}{2}+z)^5+(\frac{1}{2}-z)^5=\frac{11}{36}$. After using binomial theorem, this simplifies to $\frac{1}{16}(80z^4+40z^2+1)=\frac{11}{36}$. If we use the quadratic formula, we obtain the that $z^2=\frac{1}{12}$, so $z=\pm\frac{1}{2\sqrt{3}}$. By plugging z into $(\frac{1}{2}-z)^6+(\frac{1}{2}+z)^6$ (which is equal to $\sin^{12}{x}+\cos^{12}{x}$), we can either use binomial theorem or sum of cubes to simplify, and we end up with $\frac{13}{54}$. Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{067}$.

-eric2020, inspired by Tommy2002

## Solution 2

First, for simplicity, let $a=\sin{x}$ and $b=\cos{x}$. Note that $a^2+b^2=1$. We then bash the rest of the problem out. Take the tenth power of this expression and get $a^{10}+b^{10}+5a^2b^2(a^6+b^6)+10a^4b^4(a^2+b^2)=\frac{11}{36}+5a^2b^2(a^6+b^6)+10a^4b^4=1$. Note that we also have $\frac{11}{36}=a^{10}+b^{10}=(a^{10}+b^{10})(a^2+b^2)=a^{12}+b^{12}+a^2b^2(a^8+b^8)$. So, it suffices to compute $a^2b^2(a^8+b^8)$. Let $y=a^2b^2$. We have from cubing $a^2+b^2=1$ that $a^6+b^6+3a^2b^2(a^2+b^2)=1$ or $a^6+b^6=1-3y$. Next, using $\frac{11}{36}+5a^2b^2(a^6+b^6)+10a^4b^4=1$, we get $a^2b^2(a^6+b^6)+2a^4b^4=\frac{5}{36}$ or $y(1-3y)+2y^2=y-y^2=\frac{5}{36}$. Solving gives $y=\frac{5}{6}$ or $y=\frac{1}{6}$. Clearly $y=\frac{5}{6}$ is extraneous, so $y=\frac{1}{6}$. Now note that $a^4+b^4=(a^2+b^2)^2-2a^2b^2=\frac{2}{3}$, and $a^8+b^8=(a^4+b^4)^2-2a^4b^4=\frac{4}{9}-\frac{1}{18}=\frac{7}{18}$. Thus we finally get $a^{12}+b^{12}=\frac{11}{36}-\frac{7}{18}\cdot\frac{1}{6}=\frac{13}{54}$, giving $\boxed{067}$.

- Emathmaster

## Solution 3 (Newton Sums)

Newton sums is basically constructing the powers of the roots of the polynomials instead of deconstructing them which was done in Solution $2$. Let $\sin^2x$ and $\cos^2x$ be the roots of some polynomial $F(a)$. Then, by Vieta, $F(a)=a^2-a+b$ for some $b=\sin^2x\cdot\cos^2x$.

Let $S_k=\left(\sin^2x\right)^k+\left(\cos^2x\right)^k$. We want to find $S_6$. Clearly $S_1=1$ and $S_2=1-2b$. Newton sums tells us that $S_k-S_{k-1}+bS_{k-2}=0\Rightarrow S_k=S_{k-1}-bS_{k-2}$ where $k\ge 3$ for our polynomial $F(a)$.

Bashing, we have $$S_3=S_2-bS_1\Rightarrow S_3=(1-2b)-b(1)=1-3b$$ $$S_4=S_3-bS_2\Rightarrow S_4=(1-3b)-b(1-2b)=2b^2-4b+1$$ $$S_5=S_4-bS_3\Rightarrow S_5=(2b^2-4b+1)-b(1-3b)=5b^2-5b+1=\frac{11}{36}$$

Thus $$5b^2-5b+1=\frac{11}{36}\Rightarrow 5b^2-5b+\frac{25}{36}=0, 36b^2-36b+5=0, (6b-1)(6b-5)=0$$ $b=\frac{1}{6} \text{ or } \frac{5}{6}$. Clearly, $\sin^2x\cdot\cos^2x\not=\frac{5}{6}$ so $\sin^2x\cdot\cos^2x=b=\frac{1}{6}$.

Note $S_4=\frac{7}{18}$. Solving for $S_6$, we get $S_6=S_5-\frac{1}{6}S_4=\frac{13}{54}$. Finally, $13+54=\boxed{067}$.

## Solution 4

Factor the first equation. $$\sin^{10}x + \cos^{10}x = (\sin^2x+\cos^2x)(\sin^8x-\sin^6x\cos^2x+\sin^4x\cos^4x-\sin^2x\cos^6x+\cos^8x)$$ First of all, $\sin^4x+\cos^4x = 1-2\sin^2x\cos^2x$ because $\sin^4x+\cos^4x=(\sin^2x + \cos^2x)^2 -2\sin^2x\cos^2x = 1 - 2\sin^2x\cos^2x$ We group the first, third, and fifth term and second and fourth term. The first group: \begin{align*} \sin^8+\sin^4x\cos^4x+\cos^8x &= (\sin^4x+\cos^4x)^2-\sin^4x\cos^4x)\\ &= (1 - 2\sin^2x\cos^2x)^2-\sin^4x\cos^4x)\\ &= 1+4\sin^4x\cos^4x-4\sin^2x\cos^2x \end{align*} The second group: \begin{align*} -\sin^6x\cos^2x-\sin^2x\cos^6x &= -\sin^2x\cos^2x(\sin^4x+\cos^4x)\\ &= -\sin^2x\cos^2x(1-2\sin^2x\cos^2x)\\ &= -\sin^2x\cos^2x+2\sin^4x\cos^4x \end{align*} Add the two together to make $$1+4\sin^4x\cos^4x-4\sin^2x\cos^2x-\sin^2x\cos^2x+2\sin^4x\cos^4x = 1 - 5\sin^2x\cos^2x+5\sin^4x\cos^4x$$ Because this equals $\frac{11}{36}$, we have $$5\sin^4x\cos^4x- 5\sin^2x\cos^2x+\frac{25}{36}=0$$ Let $\sin^2x\cos^2x = a$ so we get $$5a^2- 5a+\frac{25}{36}=0 \Rightarrow a^2-a+\frac{5}{36}$$ Solving the quadratic gives us $$a = \frac{1 \pm \frac{2}{3}}{2}$$ Because $\sin^2x\cos^2x \le \frac{1}{4}$, we finally get $a = \frac{1 - \frac{2}{3}}{2} = \frac{1}{6}$.

Now from the second equation, \begin{align*} \sin^{12}x + \cos^{12}x &= (\sin^4x+\cos^4x)(\sin^8x-\sin^4x\cos^4x+\cos^8x)\\ &= (1-2\sin^2x\cos^2x)((\sin^4x+\cos^4x)^2-3\sin^4x\cos^4x)\\ &= (1-2\sin^2x\cos^2x)((1-2\sin^2x\cos^2x)^2-3\sin^4x\cos^4x) \end{align*} Plug in $\sin^2x\cos^2x = \frac{1}{6}$ to get $$(1-2(\frac{1}{6}))(1-2(\frac{1}{6})^2-3(\frac{1}{6})^2) = \frac{13}{54}$$ which yields the answer $\boxed{067}$

~ZericHang

## Solution 5

Define the recursion $a_n=(\sin^2 x)^n+(\cos^2 x)^n$ We know that the characteristic equation of $a_n$ must have 2 roots, so we can recursively define $a_n$ as $a_n=p*a_{n-1}+q*a_{n-2}$. $p$ is simply the sum of the roots of the characteristic equation, which is $\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x=1$. $q$ is the product of the roots, which is $-(\sin^2 x)(\cos^2 x)$. This value is not trivial and we have to solve for it. We know that $a_0=2$, $a_1=1$, $a_5=\frac{11}{36}$. Solving the rest of the recursion gives

$$a_2=1+2q$$ $$a_3=1+3q$$ $$a_4=1+4q+2q^2$$ $$a_5=1+5q+5q^2=\frac{11}{36}$$ $$a_6=1+6q+9q^2+2q^3$$

Solving for $q$ in the expression for $a_5$ gives us $q^2+q+\frac{5}{36}=0$, so $q=-\frac{5}{6}, -\frac{1}{6}$. Since $q=-(\sin^2 x)(\cos^2 x)$, we know that the minimum value it can attain is $-\frac{1}{4}$ by AM-GM, so $q$ cannot be $-\frac{5}{6}$. Plugging in the value of $q$ into the expression for $a_6$, we get $a_6=1-1+\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{108}=\frac{26}{108}=\frac{13}{54}$. Our final answer is then $13+54=\boxed{067}$

-Natmath

## Solution 6

Let $m=\sin^2 x$ and $n=\cos^2 x$, then $m+n=1$ and $m^5+n^5=\frac{11}{36}$

$m^6+n^6=(m^5+n^5)(m+n)-mn(m^4+n^4)=(m^5+n^5)-mn(m^4+n^4)$

Now factoring $m^5+n^5$ as solution 4 yields $m^5+n^5=(m+n)(m^4-m^3n+m^2n^2-mn^3+n^4)$ $=m^4+n^4-mn(m^2-mn+n^2)=m^4+n^4-mn[(m+n)^2-3mn]=m^4+n^4-mn(1-3mn)$.

Since $(m+n)^4=m^4+4m^3n+6m^2n^2+4mn^3+n^4$, $m^4+n^4=(m+n)^4-2mn(2m^2+3mn+2n^2)=1-2mn(2m^2+3mn+2n^2)$.

Notice that $2m^2+3mn+2n^2$ can be rewritten as $[\sqrt{2}(a+b)]^2-mn=2-mn$. Thus,$m^4+n^4=1-2mn(2-mn)$ and $m^5+n^5=1-2mn(2-mn)-mn(1-3mn)=1-5mn+5(mn)^2=\frac{11}{36}$. As in solution 4, we get $mn=\frac{1}{6}$ and $m^4+n^4=1-2*\frac{1}{6}(2-\frac{1}{6})=\frac{7}{18}$

Substitute $m^4+n^4=\frac{7}{18}$ and $mn=\frac{1}{6}$, then $m^6+n^6=\frac{11}{36}-\frac{1}{6}*\frac{7}{18}=\frac{13}{54}$, and the desired answer is $\boxed{067}$

## Solution 7 (Official MAA)

Let $c=\sin^2x\cdot\cos^2x,$ and let $S(n)=\sin^{2n}x+\cos^{2n}x.$ Then for $n\ge 1$ \begin{align*} S(n)&=(\sin^{2n}x+\cos^{2n}x)\cdot(\sin^2x+\cos^2x)\\ &=\sin^{2n+2}x+\cos^{2n+2}x+\sin^2x\cdot\cos^2x(\sin^{2n-2}x+\cos^{2n-2}x)\\ &=S(n+1)+cS(n-1). \end{align*} Because $S(0)=2$ and $S(1)=1,$ it follows that $S(2)=1-2c, S(3)=1-3c,S(4)=2c^2-4c+1,$ and $\tfrac{11}{36}=S(5)=5c^2-5c+1.$ Hence $c=\tfrac16$ or $\tfrac56,$ and because $4c=\sin^2{2x},$ the only possible value of $c$ is $\tfrac16.$ Therefore $$S(6)=S(5)-cS(4)=\frac{11}{36}-\frac16\left(2\left(\frac16\right)^2-4\left(\frac16\right)+1\right)=\frac{13}{54}.$$ The requested sum is $13+54=67.$

~ Please sub.!

## See Also

 2019 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) Preceded byProblem 7 Followed byProblem 9 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

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