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2003 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

Revision as of 10:27, 13 July 2020 by Nikenissan (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

Given that $\log_{10} \sin x + \log_{10} \cos x = -1$ and that $\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} n - 1),$ find $n.$

Solution 1

Using the properties of logarithms, we can simplify the first equation to $\log_{10} \sin x + \log_{10} \cos x = \log_{10}(\sin x \cos x) = -1$. Therefore, \[\sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{10}.\qquad (*)\]

Now, manipulate the second equation. \begin{align*} \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) &= \frac{1}{2}(\log_{10} n - \log_{10} 10) \\ \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) &= \left(\log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\right) \\ \sin x + \cos x &= \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}} \\ (\sin x + \cos x)^{2} &= \left(\sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\right)^2 \\ \sin^2 x + \cos^2 x +2 \sin x \cos x &= \frac{n}{10} \\ \end{align*}

By the Pythagorean identities, $\sin ^2 x + \cos ^2 x = 1$, and we can substitute the value for $\sin x \cos x$ from $(*)$. $1 + 2\left(\frac{1}{10}\right) = \frac{n}{10} \Longrightarrow n = \boxed{012}$.

Solution 2

Examining the first equation, we simplify as the following: \[\log_{10} \sin x \cos x = -1\] \[\implies \sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{10}\]

With this in mind, examining the second equation, we may simplify as the following (utilizing logarithm properties): \[\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} n - \log_{10} 10)\] \[\implies \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} \frac{n}{10})\] \[\implies \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\]

From here, we may divide both sides by $\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x)$ and then proceed with the change-of-base logarithm property: \[1 = \frac{\log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}}{\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x)}\] \[\implies 1 = \log_{\sin x + \cos x} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\]

Thus, exponentiating both sides results in $\sin x + \cos x = \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}$. Squaring both sides gives us \[\sin^2 x + 2\sin x \cos x + \cos^2 x = \frac{n}{10}\]

Via the Pythagorean Identity, $\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1$ and $2\sin x \cos x$ is simply $\frac{1}{5}$, via substitution. Thus, substituting these results into the current equation: \[1 + \frac{1}{5} = \frac{n}{10}\] \[\implies \frac{6}{5} = \frac{n}{10}\]

Using simple cross-multiplication techniques, we have $5n = 60$, and thus $\boxed{n = 012}$. ~ nikenissan

See also

2003 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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