2008 AIME II Problems/Problem 7

Problem

Let $r$ , $s$ , and $t$ be the three roots of the equation $8x^3 + 1001x + 2008 = 0.$ Find $(r + s)^3 + (s + t)^3 + (t + r)^3$ .

Solution

Solution 1

By Vieta's formulas, we have $r+s+t = 0$ , and so the desired answer is $(r+s)^3 + (s+t)^3 + (t+r)^3 = (0-t)^3 + (0-r)^3 + (0-s)^3 = -(r^3 + s^3 + t^3)$ . Additionally, using the factorization $r^3 + s^3 + t^3 - 3rst = (r+s+t)(r^2 + s^2 + t^2 - rs - st - tr) = 0$ we have that $r^3 + s^3 + t^3 = 3rst$ . By Vieta's again, $rst = \frac{-2008}8 = -251 \Longrightarrow -(r^3 + s^3 + t^3) = -3rst = \boxed{753}.$

Solution 2

Vieta's formulas gives $r + s + t = 0$ . Since $r$ is a root of the polynomial, $8r^3 + 1001r + 2008 = 0\Longleftrightarrow - 8r^3 = 1001r + 2008$ , and the same can be done with $s,\ t$ . Therefore, we have $\begin{align*}8\{(r + s)^3 + (s + t)^3 + (t + r)^3\} &= - 8(r^3 + s^3 + t^3)\\ &= 1001(r + s + t) + 2008\cdot 3 = 3\cdot 2008\end{align*}$ yielding the answer $\boxed{753}$ .

Also, Newton's Sums yields an answer through the application. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki/index.php/Newton's_Sums

Solution 3

Expanding, you get: $r^3 + 3r^2s + 3s^2r +s^3 +$ $s^3 + 3s^2t + 3t^2s +t^3 +$ $r^3 + 3r^2t + 3t^2r +t^3$ $= 2r^3 + 2s^3 + 2t^3 + 3r^2s + 3s^2r + 3s^2t + 3t^2s + 3r^2t + 3t^2r$ This looks similar to $(r+s+t)^3 = r^3 + s^3 + t^3 + 3r^2s + 3s^2r + 3s^2t + 3t^2s + 3r^2t + 3t^2r + rst$ Substituting: $(r+s+t)^3 - 6rst + r^3+s^3+t^3 = (r + s)^3 + (s + t)^3 + (t + r)^3$ Since $r+s+t = 0$ , $(r+s)^3 + (s+t)^3 + (t+r)^3 = (0-t)^3 + (0-r)^3 + (0-s)^3 = -(r^3 + s^3 + t^3)$ Substituting, we get $(r+s+t)^3 - 6rst + r^3+s^3+t^3 = -(r^3 + s^3 + t^3)$ or, $0^3 - 6rst + r^3+s^3+t^3 = -(r^3 + s^3 + t^3) \implies 2(r^3 + s^3 + t^3) = 6rst$ We are trying to find $-(r^3 + s^3 + t^3)$ . Substituting: $-(r^3 + s^3 + t^3) = -3srt = \frac{-2008*3}{8} = \boxed{753}.$

Solution 4

Write $(r+s)^3+(s+t)^3+(t+r)^3=-(r^3+s^3+t^3)$ and let $f(x)=8x^3+1001x+2008$ . Then $f(r)+f(s)+f(t)=8(r^3+s^3+t^3)+1001(r+s+t)+6024=8(r^3+s^3+t^3)+6024=0.$ Solving for $r^3+s^3+t^3$ and negating the result yields the answer $\boxed{753}.$

2008 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 6	Followed by Problem 8
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

Page

Toolbox

Search