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Difference between revisions of "1983 AIME Problems/Problem 3"

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Instead, we substitute <math>y</math> for <math>x^2+18x+30</math> and our equation becomes <math>y=2\sqrt{y+15}</math>.
 
Instead, we substitute <math>y</math> for <math>x^2+18x+30</math> and our equation becomes <math>y=2\sqrt{y+15}</math>.
  
−
Now we can square; solving for <math>y</math>, we get <math>y=10</math> or <math>y=-6</math>. The second solution is extraneous since <math>2\sqrt{y+15}</math> is positive. So, we have <math>y=10</math> as the only solution for <math>y</math>. Substituting <math>x^2+18x+30</math> back in for <math>y</math>,
+
Now we can square; solving for <math>y</math>, we get <math>y=10</math> or <math>y=-6</math>. The second solution is extraneous since <math>2\sqrt{y+15}</math> is positive (plugging in <math>6</math> as <math>y</math>, we get <math>-</math><math>6</math> <math>=</math> <math>6</math>, which obviously not true). So, we have <math>y=10</math> as the only solution for <math>y</math>. Substituting <math>x^2+18x+30</math> back in for <math>y</math>,
  
 
<center><math>x^2+18x+30=10 \Longrightarrow x^2+18x+20=0.</math></center> By [[Vieta's formulas]], the product of the roots is <math>\boxed{020}</math>.
 
<center><math>x^2+18x+30=10 \Longrightarrow x^2+18x+20=0.</math></center> By [[Vieta's formulas]], the product of the roots is <math>\boxed{020}</math>.

Revision as of 19:31, 5 August 2016

Problem

What is the product of the real roots of the equation $x^2 + 18x + 30 = 2 \sqrt{x^2 + 18x + 45}$?

Solution

If we expand by squaring, we get a quartic polynomial, which isn't always the easiest thing to deal with.

Instead, we substitute $y$ for $x^2+18x+30$ and our equation becomes $y=2\sqrt{y+15}$.

Now we can square; solving for $y$, we get $y=10$ or $y=-6$. The second solution is extraneous since $2\sqrt{y+15}$ is positive (plugging in $6$ as $y$, we get $-$$6$ $=$ $6$, which obviously not true). So, we have $y=10$ as the only solution for $y$. Substituting $x^2+18x+30$ back in for $y$,

$x^2+18x+30=10 \Longrightarrow x^2+18x+20=0.$

By Vieta's formulas, the product of the roots is $\boxed{020}$.

See Also

1983 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 2 		Followed by
Problem 4
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions
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