2001 AIME II Problems/Problem 14

Revision as of 09:51, 22 August 2014 by Makkahjones (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

There are $2n$ complex numbers that satisfy both $z^{28} - z^{8} - 1 = 0$ and $\mid z \mid = 1$. These numbers have the form $z_{m} = \cos\theta_{m} + i\sin\theta_{m}$, where $0\leq\theta_{1} < \theta_{2} < \ldots < \theta_{2n} < 360$ and angles are measured in degrees. Find the value of $\theta_{2} + \theta_{4} + \ldots + \theta_{2n}$.

Solution

Z can be written in the form $cis\theta$. Rearranging, we get that $cis{28}\theta$ = $cis{8}\theta$ $+1$

Since the real part of $cis{28}\theta$ is one more than the real part of $cis {8}\theta$ and their imaginary parts are equal, it is clear that either $cis{28}\theta$ = $\frac{1}{2}+\frac {\sqrt{3}}{2}i$ and $cis {8}\theta$ = $-\frac{1}{2}+\frac {\sqrt{3}}{2}i$, or $cis{28}\theta$ = $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}i$ and $cis {8}\theta$ = $-\frac{1}{2}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}i$

  • Case One  : $cis{28}\theta$ = $\frac{1}{2}+ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}i$ and $cis {8}\theta$ = $-\frac{1}{2}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}i$

Setting up and solving equations, $Z^{28}= cis{60^\circ$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) and $Z^8= cis{120^\circ$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg), we see that the solutions common to both equations have arguments $15^\circ , 105^\circ, 195^\circ,$ and $\ 285^\circ$

  • Case 2  : $cis{28}\theta$ = $\frac{1}{2} -\frac {\sqrt{3}}{2}i$ and $cis {8}\theta$ = $-\frac {1}{2} -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}i$

Again setting up equations ($Z^{28}= cis{300^\circ$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) and $Z^{8} = cis{240^\circ$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)) we see that the common solutions have arguments of $75^\circ, 165^\circ, 255^\circ,$ and $345^\circ$

Listing all of these values, it is seen that $\theta_{2} + \theta_{4} + \ldots + \theta_{2n}$ is equal to $(75 + 165 + 255 + 345) ^\circ$ which is equal to $\boxed {840}$ degrees

See also

2001 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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