Difference between revisions of "2003 AIME II Problems/Problem 9"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
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Consider the polynomials <math>P(x) = x^{6} - x^{5} - x^{3} - x^{2} - x</math> and <math>Q(x) = x^{4} - x^{3} - x^{2} - 1.</math> Given that <math>z_{1},z_{2},z_{3},</math> and <math>z_{4}</math> are the roots of <math>Q(x) = 0,</math> find <math>P(z_{1}) + P(z_{2}) + P(z_{3}) + P(z_{4}).</math>
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
{{solution}}
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When we use long division to divide <math>P(x)</math> by <math>Q(x)</math>, the remainder is <math>x^2-x+1</math>.
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So, since <math>z_1</math> is a root, <math>P(z_1)=(z_1)^2-z_1+1</math>.
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Now this also follows for all roots of <math>Q(x)</math>
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Now <cmath>P(z_2)+P(z_1)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=z_1^2-z_1+1+z_2^2-z_2+1+z_3^2-z_3+1+z_4^2-z_4+1</cmath>
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Now by Vieta's we know that <math>-z_4-z_3-z_2-z_1=-1</math>,
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so by Newton Sums we can find <math>z_1^2+z_2^2+z_3^2+z_4^2</math>
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<math>a_ns_2+a_{n-1}s_1+2a_{n-2}=0</math>
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<math>(1)(s_2)+(-1)(1)+2(-1)=0</math>
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<math>s_2-1-2=0</math>
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<math>s_2=3</math>
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So finally
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<math>P(z_2)+P(z_1)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=3+4-1=\boxed{6}.</math>
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== Solution 2 ==
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Let <math>S_k=z_1^k+z_2^k+z_3^k+z_4^k</math> then by [[Vieta's Formula]] we have
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<cmath>S_{-1}=\frac{z_1z_2z_3+z_1z_3z_4+z_1z_2z_4+z_1z_2z_3}{z_1z_2z_3z_4}=0</cmath>
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<cmath>S_0=4</cmath>
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<cmath>S_1=1</cmath>
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<cmath>S_2=3</cmath>
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By [[Newton's Sums]] we have
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<cmath>a_4S_k+a_3S_{k-1}+a_2S_{k-2}+a_1S_{k-1}+a_0S_{k-4}=0</cmath>
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Applying the formula couples of times yields <math>P(z_1)+P(z_2)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=S_6-S_5-S_3-S_2-S_1=\boxed{6}</math>.
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~ Nafer
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
* [[2003 AIME II Problems/Problem 8| Previous problem]]
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{{AIME box|year=2003|n=II|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
 
* [[2003 AIME II Problems/Problem 10| Next problem]]
 
  
* [[2003 AIME II Problems]]
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[[Category: Intermediate Algebra Problems]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 21:45, 2 July 2020

Problem

Consider the polynomials $P(x) = x^{6} - x^{5} - x^{3} - x^{2} - x$ and $Q(x) = x^{4} - x^{3} - x^{2} - 1.$ Given that $z_{1},z_{2},z_{3},$ and $z_{4}$ are the roots of $Q(x) = 0,$ find $P(z_{1}) + P(z_{2}) + P(z_{3}) + P(z_{4}).$

Solution

When we use long division to divide $P(x)$ by $Q(x)$, the remainder is $x^2-x+1$.

So, since $z_1$ is a root, $P(z_1)=(z_1)^2-z_1+1$.

Now this also follows for all roots of $Q(x)$ Now \[P(z_2)+P(z_1)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=z_1^2-z_1+1+z_2^2-z_2+1+z_3^2-z_3+1+z_4^2-z_4+1\]

Now by Vieta's we know that $-z_4-z_3-z_2-z_1=-1$, so by Newton Sums we can find $z_1^2+z_2^2+z_3^2+z_4^2$

$a_ns_2+a_{n-1}s_1+2a_{n-2}=0$

$(1)(s_2)+(-1)(1)+2(-1)=0$

$s_2-1-2=0$

$s_2=3$

So finally $P(z_2)+P(z_1)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=3+4-1=\boxed{6}.$

Solution 2

Let $S_k=z_1^k+z_2^k+z_3^k+z_4^k$ then by Vieta's Formula we have \[S_{-1}=\frac{z_1z_2z_3+z_1z_3z_4+z_1z_2z_4+z_1z_2z_3}{z_1z_2z_3z_4}=0\] \[S_0=4\] \[S_1=1\] \[S_2=3\] By Newton's Sums we have \[a_4S_k+a_3S_{k-1}+a_2S_{k-2}+a_1S_{k-1}+a_0S_{k-4}=0\]

Applying the formula couples of times yields $P(z_1)+P(z_2)+P(z_3)+P(z_4)=S_6-S_5-S_3-S_2-S_1=\boxed{6}$.

~ Nafer

See also

2003 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
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All AIME Problems and Solutions

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