Difference between revisions of "2005 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 22"

m (Solution)
Line 33: Line 33:
 
<math>z_{2005}=1\Rightarrow \theta_{2005}=2k\pi</math>, where <math>k</math> is an integer. Therefore,
 
<math>z_{2005}=1\Rightarrow \theta_{2005}=2k\pi</math>, where <math>k</math> is an integer. Therefore,
 
<cmath>
 
<cmath>
2^{2005}(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})=(2k+\frac{1}{2})\pi\
+
2^{2005}(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})=(2k+\frac{1}{2})\pi</cmath>
\theta_0=\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi+\left(\frac{1}{2^{2006}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi
+
<cmath>\theta_0=\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi+\left(\frac{1}{2^{2006}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi
 
</cmath>
 
</cmath>
 
The value of <math>\theta_0</math> only matters [[modulo]] <math>2\pi</math>. Since <math>\frac{k+2^{2005}}{2^{2004}}\pi\equiv\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi\mod 2\pi</math>, k only needs to take values from 0 to <math>2^{2005}-1</math>, so the answer is <math>2^{2005}\Rightarrow\boxed{E}</math>
 
The value of <math>\theta_0</math> only matters [[modulo]] <math>2\pi</math>. Since <math>\frac{k+2^{2005}}{2^{2004}}\pi\equiv\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi\mod 2\pi</math>, k only needs to take values from 0 to <math>2^{2005}-1</math>, so the answer is <math>2^{2005}\Rightarrow\boxed{E}</math>

Revision as of 11:52, 31 December 2015

Problem

A sequence of complex numbers $z_{0}, z_{1}, z_{2}, ...$ is defined by the rule

\[z_{n+1} = \frac {iz_{n}}{\overline {z_{n}}},\]

where $\overline {z_{n}}$ is the complex conjugate of $z_{n}$ and $i^{2}=-1$. Suppose that $|z_{0}|=1$ and $z_{2005}=1$. How many possible values are there for $z_{0}$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad  \textbf{(B)}\ 2 \qquad  \textbf{(C)}\ 4 \qquad  \textbf{(D)}\ 2005 \qquad  \textbf{(E)}\ 2^{2005}$

Solution

Since $|z_0|=1$, let $z_0=e^{i\theta_0}$, where $\theta_0$ is an argument of $z_0$. I will prove by induction that $z_n=e^{i\theta_n}$, where $\theta_n=2^n(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})-\frac{\pi}{2}$.

Base Case: trivial

Inductive Step: Suppose the formula is correct for $z_k$, then \[z_{k+1}=\frac{iz_k}{\overline {z_k}}=i e^{i\theta_k} e^{i\theta_k}=e^{i(2\theta_k+\pi/2)}\] Since \[2\theta_k+\frac{\pi}{2}=2\cdot 2^n(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})-\pi+\frac{\pi}{2}=2^{n+1}(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})-\frac{\pi}{2}=\theta_{n+1}\] the formula is proven

$z_{2005}=1\Rightarrow \theta_{2005}=2k\pi$, where $k$ is an integer. Therefore, \[2^{2005}(\theta_0+\frac{\pi}{2})=(2k+\frac{1}{2})\pi\] \[\theta_0=\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi+\left(\frac{1}{2^{2006}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi\] The value of $\theta_0$ only matters modulo $2\pi$. Since $\frac{k+2^{2005}}{2^{2004}}\pi\equiv\frac{k}{2^{2004}}\pi\mod 2\pi$, k only needs to take values from 0 to $2^{2005}-1$, so the answer is $2^{2005}\Rightarrow\boxed{E}$

See Also

2005 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
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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