2020 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 8

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Problem

How many ordered pairs of integers $(x,y)$ satisfy the equation \[x^{2020}+y^2=2y\]

Solution

Set it up as a quadratic in terms of y: \[y^2-2y+x^{2020}=0\] Then the discriminant is \[\Delta = 4-4x^{2020}\] This will clearly only yield real solutions when $x^{2020} \leq 1$, because it is always positive. Then $x=-1,0,1$. Checking each one: $-1$ and $1$ are the same when raised to the 2020th power: \[y^2-2y+1=(y-1)^2=0\] This has only has solutions $1$, so $(\pm 1,1)$ are solutions. Next, if $x=0$: \[y^2-2y=0\] Which has 2 solutions, so $(0,2)$ and $(0,0)$

These are the only 4 solutions, so $\boxed{D}$

Solution 2

Move the $y^2$ term to the other side to get $x^{2020}=2y-y^2 = y(2-y)$. Because $x^{2020} \geq 0$ for all $x$, then $y(2-y) \geq 0 \Rightarrow y = 0,1,2$. If $y=0$ or $y=2$, the right side is $0$ and therefore $x=0$. When $y=1$, the right side become $1$, therefore $x=1,-1$. Our solutions are $(0,2)$, $(0,0)$, $(1,1)$, $(-1,1)$. There are $4$ solutions, so the answer is $\boxed{D}$

See Also

2020 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
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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