2015 AIME II Problems/Problem 14

Problem

Let $x$ and $y$ be real numbers satisfying $x^4y^5+y^4x^5=810$ and $x^3y^6+y^3x^6=945$ . Evaluate $2x^3+(xy)^3+2y^3$ .

Solution

The expression we want to find is $2(x^3+y^3) + x^3y^3$ .

Factor the given equations as $x^4y^4(x+y) = 810$ and $x^3y^3(x^3+y^3)=945$ , respectively. Dividing the latter by the former equation yields $\frac{x^2-xy+y^2}{xy} = \frac{945}{810}$ . Adding 3 to both sides and simplifying yields $\frac{(x+y)^2}{xy} = \frac{25}{6}$ . Solving for $x+y$ and substituting this expression into the first equation yields $\frac{5\sqrt{6}}{6}(xy)^{\frac{9}{2}} = 810$ . Solving for $xy$ , we find that $xy = 3\sqrt[3]{2}$ , so $x^3y^3 = 54$ . Substituting this into the second equation and solving for $x^3+y^3$ yields $x^3+y^3=\frac{35}{2}$ . So, the expression to evaluate is equal to $2 \times \frac{35}{2} + 54 = \boxed{089}$ .

Solution 2

Factor the given equations as $x^4y^4(x+y) = 810$ and $x^3y^3(x+y)(x^2-xy+y^2)=945$ , respectively. By the first equation, $x+y=\frac{810}{x^4y^4}$ . Plugging this in to the second equation and simplifying yields $(\frac{x}{y}-1+\frac{y}{x})=\frac{7}{6}$ . Now substitute $\frac{x}{y}=a$ . Solving the quadratic in $a$ , we get $a=\frac{x}{y}=\frac{2}{3}$ or $\frac{3}{2}$ As both of the original equations were symmetric in $x$ and $y$ , WLOG, let $\frac{x}{y}=\frac{2}{3}$ , so $x=\frac{2}{3}y$ . Now plugging this in to either one of the equations, we get the solutions $y=\frac{3(2^{\frac{2}{3}})}{2}$ , $x=2^{\frac{2}{3}}$ . Now plugging into what we want, we get $8+54+27=\boxed{089}$

2015 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 13	Followed by Problem 15
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2015 AIME II Problems/Problem 14

Contents

Problem

Solution

Solution 2

See also