1989 AIME Problems/Problem 14

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Problem

Given a positive integer $n^{}_{}$, it can be shown that every complex number of the form $r+si^{}_{}$, where $r^{}_{}$ and $s^{}_{}$ are integers, can be uniquely expressed in the base $-n+i^{}_{}$ using the integers $1,2^{}_{},\ldots,n^2$ as digits. That is, the equation

$r+si=a_m(-n+i)^m+a_{m-1}(-n+i)^{m-1}+\cdots +a_1(-n+i)+a_0$

is true for a unique choice of non-negative integer $m^{}_{}$ and digits $a_0,a_1^{},\ldots,a_m$ chosen from the set $\{0^{}_{},1,2,\ldots,n^2\}$, with $a_m\ne 0^{}){}$. We write

$r+si=(a_ma_{m-1}\ldots a_1a_0)_{-n+i}$

to denote the base $-n+i^{}_{}$ expansion of $r+si^{}_{}$. There are only finitely many integers $k+0i^{}_{}$ that have four-digit expansions

$k=(a_3a_2a_1a_0)_{-3+i^{}_{}}~~~~a_3\ne 0.$

Find the sum of all such $k^{}_{}$.

Solution

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See also