Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 20"
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== Solution 7 (Answer Choices) == | == Solution 7 (Answer Choices) == | ||
− | Notice that < | + | Notice that <cmath>a^{4} + a^{-4} = \left(a^{2} + a^{-2}\right)^{2} - 2.</cmath> We guess that <math>a^{2} + a^{-2}</math> is an integer, so the answer must be <math>2</math> less than a perfect square. The only possibility is <math>\boxed{\text{(D)}\ 194}.</math> |
+ | |||
+ | ~Thanosaops (Fundamental Logic) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction) | ||
== See also == | == See also == |
Revision as of 00:59, 25 June 2021
Contents
Problem
Suppose that the number satisfies the equation
. What is the value of
?
Solution 1 (Decreases the Powers)
Notice that for all real numbers we have
from which
We apply this result twice to get the answer:
~Azjps (Fundamental Logic)
~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction)
Solution 2 (Increases the Powers)
Squaring both sides of gives
from which
Squaring both sides of gives
from which
~Rbhale12 (Fundamental Logic)
~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction)
Solution 3 (Binomial Theorem)
Squaring both sides of gives
from which
We raise both sides of to the fourth power, then apply the Binomial Theorem:
~MRENTHUSIASM
Solution 4
. We apply the quadratic formula to get
.
Thus (so it doesn't matter which root of
we use). Using the binomial theorem we can expand this out and collect terms to get
.
Solution 5
We let and
be roots of a certain quadratic. Specifically
. We use Newton's Sums given the coefficients to find
.
Solution 6
Let =
+
. Then
so
. Then by De Moivre's Theorem,
=
and solving gets 194.
Solution 7 (Answer Choices)
Notice that We guess that
is an integer, so the answer must be
less than a perfect square. The only possibility is
~Thanosaops (Fundamental Logic)
~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction)
See also
2007 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 19 |
Followed by Problem 21 | |
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 10 Problems and Solutions |
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