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Difference between revisions of "2010 AIME I Problems/Problem 3"

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Suppose that <math>y = \frac34x</math> and <math>x^y = y^x</math>. The quantity <math>x + y</math> can be expressed as a rational number <math>\frac {r}{s}</math>, where <math>r</math> and <math>s</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>r + s</math>.
 
Suppose that <math>y = \frac34x</math> and <math>x^y = y^x</math>. The quantity <math>x + y</math> can be expressed as a rational number <math>\frac {r}{s}</math>, where <math>r</math> and <math>s</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>r + s</math>.
  
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== Solution ==
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== Solution 1 ==
 +
Substitute <math>y = \frac34x</math> into <math>x^y = y^x</math> and solve.
 +
<cmath>x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34x)^x</cmath>
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<cmath>x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34)^x \cdot x^x</cmath>
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<cmath>x^{-\frac14x} = (\frac34)^x</cmath>
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<cmath>x^{-\frac14} = \frac34</cmath>
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<cmath>x = \frac{256}{81}</cmath>
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<cmath>y = \frac34x = \frac{192}{81}</cmath>
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<cmath>x + y = \frac{448}{81}</cmath>
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<cmath>448 + 81 = \boxed{529}</cmath>
 +
 
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== Solution 2 ==
 
We solve in general using <math>c</math> instead of <math>3/4</math>. Substituting <math>y = cx</math>, we have:
 
We solve in general using <math>c</math> instead of <math>3/4</math>. Substituting <math>y = cx</math>, we have:
  

Revision as of 16:01, 25 July 2019

Problem

Suppose that $y = \frac34x$ and $x^y = y^x$. The quantity $x + y$ can be expressed as a rational number $\frac {r}{s}$, where $r$ and $s$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $r + s$.

Solution 1

Substitute $y = \frac34x$ into $x^y = y^x$ and solve. \[x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34x)^x\] \[x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34)^x \cdot x^x\] \[x^{-\frac14x} = (\frac34)^x\] \[x^{-\frac14} = \frac34\] \[x = \frac{256}{81}\] \[y = \frac34x = \frac{192}{81}\] \[x + y = \frac{448}{81}\] \[448 + 81 = \boxed{529}\]

Solution 2

We solve in general using $c$ instead of $3/4$. Substituting $y = cx$, we have:

\[x^{cx} = (cx)^x \Longrightarrow (x^x)^c = c^x\cdot x^x\]

Dividing by $x^x$, we get $(x^x)^{c - 1} = c^x$.

Taking the $x$th root, $x^{c - 1} = c$, or $x = c^{1/(c - 1)}$.

In the case $c = \frac34$, $x = \Bigg(\frac34\Bigg)^{ - 4} = \Bigg(\frac43\Bigg)^4 = \frac {256}{81}$, $y = \frac {64}{27}$, $x + y = \frac {256 + 192}{81} = \frac {448}{81}$, yielding an answer of $448 + 81 = \boxed{529}$.

Solution 2

Taking the logarithm base $x$ of both sides, we arrive with:

\[y = log_x y^x \Longrightarrow \frac{y}{x} = log_x y = log_x \frac{3}{4}x = \frac{3}{4}\]

Where the last two simplifications were made since $y = \frac{3}{4}x$. Then,

\[x^{\frac{3}{4}} = \frac{3}{4}x \Longrightarrow x^{\frac{1}{4}} = \frac{4}{3} \Longrightarrow x = \left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^4\]

Then, $y = \left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^3$, and thus:

\[x+y = \left(\frac{4}{3}\right)^3 \left(\frac{4}{3} + 1 \right) = \frac{448}{81} \Longrightarrow 448 + 81 = \boxed{529}\]

Solution 3

\[x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34x)^x\] \[x^{\frac34x} = (\frac34)^x \cdot x^x\] \[x^{-\frac14x} = (\frac34)^x\] \[x^{-\frac14} = \frac34\] \[x = \frac{256}{81}\] \[y = \frac34x = \frac{192}{81}\] \[x + y = \frac{448}{81}\] \[448 + 81 = \boxed{529}\]

See Also

2010 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 2 		Followed by
Problem 4
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All AIME Problems and Solutions

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