Difference between revisions of "2022 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 22"

Revision as of 16:57, 12 November 2022

Problem

Let $c$ be a real number, and let $z_1$ and $z_2$ be the two complex numbers satisfying the equation $z^2 - cz + 10 = 0$ . Points $z_1$ , $z_2$ , $\frac{1}{z_1}$ , and $\frac{1}{z_2}$ are the vertices of (convex) quadrilateral $Q$ in the complex plane. When the area of $Q$ obtains its maximum possible value, $c$ is closest to which of the following?

Solution

Because $c$ is real, $z_2 = \bar z_1$ . We have $\begin{align*} 10 & = z_1 z_2 \\ & = z_1 \bar z_1 \\ & = |z_1|^2 , \end{align*}$ where the first equality follows from Vieta's formula.

Thus, $|z_1| = \sqrt{10}$ .

We have $\begin{align*} c & = z_1 + z_2 \\ & = z_1 + \bar z_1 \\ & = 2 {\rm Re} \ z_1 , \end{align*}$ where the first equality follows from Vieta's formula.

Thus, ${\rm Re} \ z_1 = \frac{c}{2}$ .

We have $\begin{align*} \frac{1}{z_1} & = \frac{1}{10} \frac{10}{z_1} \\ & = \frac{1}{10} \frac{z_1 z_2}{z_1} \\ & = \frac{z_2}{10} \\ & = \frac{\bar z_1}{10} . \end{align*}$ where the second equality follows from Vieta's formula.

We have $\begin{align*} \frac{1}{z_2} & = \frac{1}{10} \frac{10}{z_2} \\ & = \frac{1}{10} \frac{z_1 z_2}{z_2} \\ & = \frac{z_1}{10} . \end{align*}$ where the second equality follows from Vieta's formula.

Therefore, $\begin{align*} {\rm Area} \ Q & = \frac{1}{2} \left| {\rm Re} \ z_1 \right| \cdot 2 \left| {\rm Im} \ z_1 \right| \cdot \left( 1 - \frac{1}{10^2} \right) \\ & = \frac{1}{2} |c| \sqrt{10 - \frac{c^2}{4}} \left( 1 - \frac{1}{10^2} \right) \\ & = \frac{1 - \frac{1}{10^2}}{4} \sqrt{c^2 \left( 40 - c^2 \right)} \\ & \leq \frac{1 - \frac{1}{10^2}}{4} \cdot \frac{c^2 + \left( 40 - c^2 \right)}{2} \\ & = \frac{1 - \frac{1}{10^2}}{4} \cdot 20 , \end{align*}$ where the inequality follows from the AM-GM inequality, and it is augmented to an equality if and only if $c^2 = 40 - c^2$ . Thus, $|c| = 2 \sqrt{5} \approx \boxed{\textbf{(A) 4.5}}$ .

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Solution 2

Because $z^2 - cz + 10 = 0$ , notice that $|z_1||z_2|=|10|=10$ . Furthermore, note that because $c$ is real, $z_2=\bar z_1$ . Thus, $\frac{1}{z_1}=\frac{\bar z_1}{z_1\cdot{\bar z_1}}=\frac{z_2}{|z_1|^2}=\frac{z_2}{100}$ . Similarly, $\frac{1}{z_2}=\frac{z_1}{100}$ . On the complex coordinate plane, let $z_1=A_2$ , $z_2=B_2$ , $\frac{1}{z_2}=A_1$ , $\frac{1}{z_1}=B_1$ . Notice how $OA_1B_1$ is similar to $OA_2B_2$ . Thus, the area of $A_1B_1B_2B_1$ is $(k)(OA_2B_2)$ for some constant $k$ , and $OA_2B_2 =$ (In progress)

Solution 3

Since $c$ , which is the sum of roots $z_1$ and $z_2$ , is real, $z_1=\overline{z_2}$ .

Let $z_1=a+bi$ . Then $z_2=a-bi$ . Note that the product of the roots is $10$ by Vieta's, so $z_1z_2=(a+bi)(a-bi)=a^2+b^2=10$ .

Thus, $\frac{1}{z_1}=\frac{1}{a-bi}\cdot\frac{a+bi}{a+bi}=\frac{a+bi}{a^2+b^2}=\frac{a+bi}{10}$ . With the same process, $\frac{1}{z_2}=\frac{a-bi}{10}$ .

So, our four points are $a+bi,\frac{a+bi}{10},a-bi,$ and $\frac{a-bi}{10}$ . WLOG let $a+bi$ be in the first quadrant and graph these four points on the complex plane. Notice how quadrilateral Q is a trapezoid with the real axis as its axis of symmetry. It has a short base with endpoints $\frac{a+bi}{10}$ and $\frac{a-bi}{10}$ , so its length is $\left|\frac{a+bi}{10} - \frac{a-bi}{10}\right| =\frac{b}{5}$ . Likewise, its long base has endpoints $a+bi$ and $a-bi$ , so its length is $|(a+bi)-(a-bi)|=2b$ .

The height, which is the distance between the two lines, is the difference between the real values of the two bases $\implies h= a-\frac{a}{10}=\frac{9a}{10}$ .

Plugging these into the area formula for a trapezoid, we are trying to maximize $\frac12\cdot\left(2b+\frac{b}{5}\right)\cdot\frac{9a}{10}=\frac{99ab}{100}$ . Thus, the only thing we need to maximize is $ab$ .

With the restriction that $a^2+b^2=(a-b)^2+2ab=10$ , $ab$ is maximized when $a=b={\sqrt{5}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg).

Remember, $c$ is the sum of the roots, so $c=z_1+z_2=2a=2\sqrt5=\sqrt{20}\approx\boxed{4.5}$ ~quacker88

Video Solution by Punxsutawney Phil

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bbMcdvlPcyA

Video Solution by Steven Chen

https://youtu.be/pcB2sg7Ag58

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 Plugging these into the area formula for a trapezoid, we are trying to maximize <math>\frac12\cdot\left(2b+\frac{b}{5}\right)\cdot\frac{9a}{10}=\frac{99ab}{100}</math>. Thus, the only thing we need to maximize is <math>ab</math>.
-With the restriction that <math>a^2+b^2=(a-b)^2+2ab=10</math>, <math>ab</math> is maximized when <math>a=b=\frac{\sqrt{5}</math>.
+With the restriction that <math>a^2+b^2=(a-b)^2+2ab=10</math>, <math>ab</math> is maximized when <math>a=b={\sqrt{5}</math>.
-Remember, <math>c</math> is the sum of the roots, so <math>c=z_1+z_2=2a=2\sqrt5=\sqrt{20}\approx\boxed{4.5}</math>
+Remember, <math>c</math> is the sum of the roots, so <math>c=z_1+z_2=2a=2\sqrt5=\sqrt{20}\approx\boxed{4.5}</math> ~quacker88
 ==Video Solution by Punxsutawney Phil==

2022 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 21	Followed by Problem 23
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