# Mock AIME 3 2006-2007 Problems/Problem 11

## Problem

If $x$ and $y$ are real numbers such that $2xy+2x^2=6+x^2+y^2$ find the minimum value of $(x^2+y^2)^2$.

## Solution 1

Factoring the LHS gives $2x(x+y)=6+x^2+y^2$.

Now converting to polar: $2r\cos(a)(r\cos(a)+r\sin(a))=6+r^2$

$2\cos(a)(\cos(a)+\sin(a))=\frac{6}{r^2}+1$

$2\cos^2(a)-1+2\cos(a)\sin(a)=\frac{6}{r^2}$

$\cos(2a)+\sin(2a)=\frac{6}{r^2}$

$r^2=\frac{6}{\cos(2a)+\sin(2a)}$

Since we want to find $(x^2+y^2)^2=r^4$, $r^4=\frac{36}{(\cos(2a)+\sin(2a))^2}=\frac{36}{1+2\cos(2a)\sin(2a)}=\frac{36}{1+\sin(4a)}$

Since we want the minimum of this expression, we need to maximize the denominator. The maximum of the sine function is 1

(one value of $a$ which produces this maximum is $a=\frac{\pi}{4}$)

So the desired minimum is $\frac{36}{2}=\boxed{018}$

## Solution 2

Since $x^2 + y^2 \ge 0$, finding the minimum value of $(x^2 + y^2)^2$ is similar to finding that of $x^2 + y^2$. Let $x^2 + y^2 = a$, where $a$ is the minimum value. We can rewrite this as $y = -x^2 + a$ and $y = \sqrt{-x^2 + a}$. $$2xy + 2x^2 = x^2 + y^2 + 6$$$$2x(\sqrt{-x^2 + a}) + 2x^2 = x^2 + (-x^2 + a) + 6$$$$2x(\sqrt{-x^2 + a}) + 2x^2 = a + 6$$$$2x^2 - (a + 6) = -2x(\sqrt{x^2 + a})$$. $$4x^2 - 4(a + 6)x^2 + (a + 6)^2 = 4x^2(-x^2 + a)$$. $$8x^4 - 8(a + 3)x^2 + (a + 6)^2 = 0$$. We want this polynomial to factor in the form $(x^2 - r)(x^2 - s)$, where at least one of $r, s \ge 0$. ( If $r, s < 0$, the equations $x^2 = r$ and $x^2 = s$ have no real solutions). Since $a > 0$, both $-8(a + 3) > 0$ and $(a + 6)^2 > 0$, so $r, s > 0$.

We can now use the “discriminant” to determine acceptable values of $a$. $(8(a + 3))^2 - 4\cdot 8 \cdot (a + 6)^2 \ge 0$ simplifies to $a^2 \ge 18$. Therefore, the minimum value of $(x^2 + y^2)^2 = a^2 = \boxed{18}$.

<baker77>

## Solution 3 (Lagrange Multipliers)

Since $x^2+y^2\ge0$, $(x^2 + y^2)^2$ will be minimized when $x^2 + y^2$ is at its minimum. We construct the Lagrangian $\mathcal{L} = x^2 + y^2 - \lambda(x^2 - y^2 + 2xy - 6)$ by taking our value to optimize and subtracting off $\lambda$ times our constraint, which we've set equal to zero. Now we seek points where its gradient is zero to get the three equations: $$2x - 2\lambda x - 2\lambda y = 0$$ $$2y + 2\lambda y - 2\lambda x = 0$$ $$x^2 - y^2 + 2xy - 6 = 0$$ All that is left to do is trudge through the algebra and solve for $x^2+y^2$. Adding and subtracting the first two equations, dividing by two, and setting $\mu = 2\lambda$ for convenience yields: $$x + y = \mu x$$ $$x - y = \mu y$$ We will use the last three equations to solve for $x^2+y^2$, then square the result for our answer. Squaring each equation involving $\mu$ and subtracting the results yields: $$x^2 + 2xy + y^2 - (x^2 - 2xy + y^2) = \mu^2x^2 - \mu^2y^2$$ $$4xy = \mu^2(x^2 - y^2)$$ Multiplying the two equations involving $\mu$ yields: $$x^2 - y^2 = \mu^2xy$$ This can be substituted into the the previous equation: $$4xy = \mu^2(\mu^2xy)$$ $$\sqrt2 = \mu$$ Substituting this into our constraint yields: $$\mu^2xy + 2xy = 6$$ $$4xy = 6$$ $$2xy = 3$$ Now, returning to the first equation involving $\mu$: $$x = \mu x - y$$ $$x^2 = \mu^2x^2 - 2\mu xy + y^2 = 2x^2 - 2\sqrt2xy + y^2$$ $$\sqrt2 (2xy) = x^2 + y^2$$ $$3\sqrt2 = x^2 + y^2$$ $$18 = (x^2 + y^2)^2$$ QED. -eiis1000