Difference between revisions of "1984 AIME Problems/Problem 15"
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== Solution 1 == | == Solution 1 == | ||
Rewrite the system of equations as <math> \frac{x^{2}}{t-1}+\frac{y^{2}}{t-3^{2}}+\frac{z^{2}}{t-5^{2}}+\frac{w^{2}}{t-7^{2}}=1. </math> This equation is satisfied when <math>t = 4,16,36,64</math>, as then the equation is equivalent to the given equations. | Rewrite the system of equations as <math> \frac{x^{2}}{t-1}+\frac{y^{2}}{t-3^{2}}+\frac{z^{2}}{t-5^{2}}+\frac{w^{2}}{t-7^{2}}=1. </math> This equation is satisfied when <math>t = 4,16,36,64</math>, as then the equation is equivalent to the given equations. | ||
− | After clearing fractions, for each of the values <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, we have the [[equation]] < | + | After clearing fractions, for each of the values <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, we have the [[equation]] <cmath>x^2(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)+y^2(t-1)(t-25)(t-49)+z^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-49)+w^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-25) = (t-1)(t-9)(t-25)(t-49).</cmath> We can move the expression <math>(t-1)(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)</math> to the left hand side to obtain the difference of the polynomials: |
+ | <math></math>x^2(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)+y^2(t-1)(t-25)(t-49)+z^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-49)+w^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-25)<math> and </math>(t-1)(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)<math></math> | ||
Since the polynomials are equal at <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, we can express the difference of the two polynomials with a quartic polynomial that has roots at <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, so | Since the polynomials are equal at <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, we can express the difference of the two polynomials with a quartic polynomial that has roots at <math>t=4,16,36,64</math>, so |
Revision as of 12:21, 9 July 2023
Problem
Determine if
Solution 1
Rewrite the system of equations as This equation is satisfied when , as then the equation is equivalent to the given equations. After clearing fractions, for each of the values , we have the equation We can move the expression to the left hand side to obtain the difference of the polynomials: $$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)x^2(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)+y^2(t-1)(t-25)(t-49)+z^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-49)+w^2(t-1)(t-9)(t-25)(t-1)(t-9)(t-25)(t-49)$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)
Since the polynomials are equal at , we can express the difference of the two polynomials with a quartic polynomial that has roots at , so
Note the leading coefficient of the RHS is because it must match the leading coefficient of the LHS, which is .
Now we can plug in into the polynomial equation. Most terms drop, and we end up with
so that
Similarly, we can plug in and get
Now adding them up,
with a sum of
Postscript for the puzzled: This solution which is seemingly unnecessarily redundant in that it computes and separately before adding them to obtain the final answer is appealing because it gives the individual values of and which can be plugged into the given equations to check.
Solution 2
As in Solution 1, we have
Now the coefficient of on both sides must be equal. So instead of expanding it fully, we will find what the coefficients of the and terms are, so we can eventually apply Vieta's. We can write the long equation as Rearranging gives us By Vieta's, we know that the sum of the roots of this equation is (recall that the roots of the original and this manipulated form of it had roots and ). Thus,
Solution 3 (Highly Unrecommended)
Before starting this solution, I highly recommend never following this unless you have no idea what to do with an hour of your time. Even so, learning the above solutions will be more beneficial.
can be rewritten as You might be able to see where this is going. First off, find and . Then, multiply by the respective lcm to clear all of the denominators. Once you do that, maniuplate the equations to solve for .
Now, most of this is just a brainless bash, and reemphasizing, please try to learn the above solutions. This is only a last resort and only to be used if you have too much time left. The exact amount of time this bash takes depends on the person and how quickly they can manipulate the equations.
See also
1984 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 14 |
Followed by Last Question | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
All AIME Problems and Solutions |