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Difference between revisions of "2011 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 23"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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===Solution 1===
 
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Lemma) if <math>f(z) = \frac{z + a}{z + b}</math>, then <math>f(f(f(f(\frac{-a(1+b)}{a+1})))) = \frac{a ( 1 + b)}{ a+b^2}</math>
 
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<math>f(f(f(f(\frac{-a(1+b)}{a+1})))) = f(f(f(-a))) = f(f(0)) = f(\frac{a}{b}) = \frac{a + ab}{a + b^2}</math>
 
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Well, let us consider the cases where each of those step is definite (<math>f(-b)</math> is never evaluate).
 
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So, we have <math> \frac{-a(1+b)}{a+1} \neq - b</math>,
 
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<math> -a - ab \neq - ab - b</math>
 
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<math> a \neq b</math> --- (exception -> case 2)
 
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<math>-a \neq -b</math> --- (exception -> case 3)
 
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<math>0 \neq -b</math> --- (exception -> case 4)
 
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<math>\frac{a}{b} \neq -b</math>
 
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<math>a \neq -b ^2</math> --- (exception -> case 5)
 
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If it is not any of the above 5 cases, then
 
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<math> \frac{-a(1+b)}{a+1} = \frac{a + ab}{a + b^2}</math>
 
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if <math>a(1+b) \neq 0</math> (--- exception -> case 6), then <math>-(a+b^2) = a+1</math>, <math>b^2 = -2a - 1</math>, <math>1 \le |b^2| \le 3</math>
 
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Hence, it is possible maximum of <math>|b| = \sqrt{3}</math> and minimum is 1.
 
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2 possible combination of <math>(a,b)</math> are <math>(1, 3i)</math> and <math>(-1, 1)</math>.
 
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Case 2) <math>a = b</math>, then <math>|b| = 1</math>
 
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Case 3) <math>|b|</math> = 1, which is in the range.
 
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Case 5) <math>b^2 = -a</math>, hence <math>|b| = 1</math>
 
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Case 6) Since <math>a \neq 0</math>, <math>(1+b) = 0</math>, <math>|b| = 1</math>
 
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Case 4) If <math>b = 0</math>, <math>f(z) = \frac{z+a}{z}</math>, <math>f(0)</math> is not define.
 
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In this case, <math>f(f(f(f(\frac{a}{a-1})))) = f(f(f(a)))= f(f(2)) = f( \frac{2+a}{2}) = \frac{2+3a}{2+a}</math> and <math>f(f(f(f(\frac{a}{a-2})))) = f(f(f(2a)))= f(f(\frac{3}{2})) = f( \frac{3+2a}{3}) = \frac{3+5a}{3+2a}</math>
 
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Hence, <math>(2+a)a = (a-1)(2+3a)</math> and <math>(a)(3+2a) = (a-2)(3+5a)</math>. Once, you work out this system, you will get no solution with <math>|a| = 1</math>.
 
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<math>\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 2\sqrt{6}}</math>
 
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===Solution 2===
 
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By algebraic manipulations, we obtain  
 
By algebraic manipulations, we obtain  
 
<cmath>h(z)=g(g(z))=f(f(f(f(z))))=\frac{Pz+Q}{Rz+S}</cmath> where <math>P=(a+1)^2+a(b+1)^2</math>, <math>Q=a(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)</math>, <math>R=(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)</math>, and <math>S=a(b+1)^2+(a+b^2)^2</math>. In order for <math>h(z)=z</math>, we must have <math>R=0</math>, <math>Q=0</math>, and <math>P=S</math>. The first implies <math>b=-1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>, the second implies <math>a=0</math>, <math>b=-1</math>, or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>, and the third implies <math>b=\pm1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>. Since <math>|a|=1\neq 0</math>, in order to satisfy all 3 conditions we must have either <math>b=1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>. In the first case <math>|b|=1</math>.  
 
<cmath>h(z)=g(g(z))=f(f(f(f(z))))=\frac{Pz+Q}{Rz+S}</cmath> where <math>P=(a+1)^2+a(b+1)^2</math>, <math>Q=a(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)</math>, <math>R=(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)</math>, and <math>S=a(b+1)^2+(a+b^2)^2</math>. In order for <math>h(z)=z</math>, we must have <math>R=0</math>, <math>Q=0</math>, and <math>P=S</math>. The first implies <math>b=-1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>, the second implies <math>a=0</math>, <math>b=-1</math>, or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>, and the third implies <math>b=\pm1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>. Since <math>|a|=1\neq 0</math>, in order to satisfy all 3 conditions we must have either <math>b=1</math> or <math>b^2+2a+1=0</math>. In the first case <math>|b|=1</math>.  

Revision as of 14:22, 22 September 2013

Problem

Let $f(z)= \frac{z+a}{z+b}$ and $g(z)=f(f(z))$, where $a$ and $b$ are complex numbers. Suppose that $\left| a \right| = 1$ and $g(g(z))=z$ for all $z$ for which $g(g(z))$ is defined. What is the difference between the largest and smallest possible values of $\left| b \right|$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \sqrt{2}-1 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{3}-1 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2$

Solution

By algebraic manipulations, we obtain \[h(z)=g(g(z))=f(f(f(f(z))))=\frac{Pz+Q}{Rz+S}\] where $P=(a+1)^2+a(b+1)^2$, $Q=a(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)$, $R=(b+1)(b^2+2a+1)$, and $S=a(b+1)^2+(a+b^2)^2$. In order for $h(z)=z$, we must have $R=0$, $Q=0$, and $P=S$. The first implies $b=-1$ or $b^2+2a+1=0$, the second implies $a=0$, $b=-1$, or $b^2+2a+1=0$, and the third implies $b=\pm1$ or $b^2+2a+1=0$. Since $|a|=1\neq 0$, in order to satisfy all 3 conditions we must have either $b=1$ or $b^2+2a+1=0$. In the first case $|b|=1$.

For the latter case note that \[|b^2+1|=|-2a|=2\] \[2=|b^2+1|\leq |b^2|+1\] and hence, \[1\leq|b|^2\Rightarrow1\leq |b|\]. On the other hand, \[2=|b^2+1|\geq|b^2|-1\] so, \[|b^2|\leq 3\Rightarrow0\leq |b|\leq \sqrt{3}\]. Thus $1\leq |b|\leq \sqrt{3}$. Hence the maximum value for $|b|$ is $\sqrt{3}$ while the minimum is $1$ (which can be achieved for instance when $|a|=1,|b|=\sqrt{3}$ or $|a|=1,|b|=1$ respectively). Therefore the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 2\sqrt{6}}$.

See also

2011 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 22 		Followed by
Problem 24
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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