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Difference between revisions of "2004 AIME I Problems/Problem 7"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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Let our [[polynomial]] be <math>P(x)</math>.  It is clear that the [[coefficient]] of <math>x</math> in <math>P(x)</math> is <math>-1 + 2 - 3 + \ldots + 14 - 15 = -8</math>, so <math>P(x) = 1 -8x + Cx^2 + Q(x)</math> where <math>Q(x)</math> is some polynomial [[divisibility | divisible]] by <math>x^3</math>.  Then <math>P(-x) = 1 + 8x + Cx^2 + Q(-x)</math> and so <math>P(x)\cdot P(-x) = 1 + (2C - 64)x^2 + R(x)</math>, where <math>R(x)</math> is some polynomial divisible by <math>x^3</math>.  However, we also know <math>P(x)\cdot P(-x) = (1 - x)(1 + x)(1 +2x)(1 - 2x) \cdots (1 - 15x)(1 + 15x)</math> <math>= (1 - x^2)(1 - 4x^2)\cdots(1 - 225x^2)</math> <math>= 1 - (1 + 4 + \ldots + 225)x^2 + R(x)</math>.
+
Let our [[polynomial]] be <math>P(x)</math>.
−
Equating coefficients, we have <math>2C - 64 = -(1 + 4 + \ldots + 225) = -1240</math>, so <math>-2C = 1176</math> and <math>|C| = 588</math>.
 
  
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== See also ==
+
It is clear that the [[coefficient]] of <math>x</math> in <math>P(x)</math> is <math>-1 + 2 - 3 + \ldots + 14 - 15 = -8</math>, so <math>P(x) = 1 -8x + Cx^2 + Q(x)</math>, where <math>Q(x)</math> is some polynomial [[divisibility | divisible]] by <math>x^3</math>.
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* [[2004 AIME I Problems/Problem 6| Previous problem]]
+
 
 +
Then <math>P(-x) = 1 + 8x + Cx^2 + Q(-x)</math> and so <math>P(x)\cdot P(-x) = 1 + (2C - 64)x^2 + R(x)</math>, where <math>R(x)</math> is some polynomial divisible by <math>x^3</math>.
 +
 
 +
However, we also know <math>P(x)\cdot P(-x) = (1 - x)(1 + x)(1 +2x)(1 - 2x) \cdots (1 - 15x)(1 + 15x)</math> <math>= (1 - x^2)(1 - 4x^2)\cdots(1 - 225x^2)</math> <math>= 1 - (1 + 4 + \ldots + 225)x^2 + R(x)</math>.
  
−
* [[2004 AIME I Problems/Problem 8| Next problem]]
+
Equating coefficients, we have <math>2C - 64 = -(1 + 4 + \ldots + 225) = -1240</math>, so <math>-2C = 1176</math> and <math>|C| = \boxed{588}</math>.
  
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* [[2004 AIME I Problems]]
+
== See also ==
 +
{{AIME box|year=2004|n=I|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
  
 
[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]
 
[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]

Revision as of 16:05, 27 April 2008

Problem

Let $C$ be the coefficient of $x^2$ in the expansion of the product $(1 - x)(1 + 2x)(1 - 3x)\cdots(1 + 14x)(1 - 15x).$ Find $|C|.$

Solution

Let our polynomial be $P(x)$.

It is clear that the coefficient of $x$ in $P(x)$ is $-1 + 2 - 3 + \ldots + 14 - 15 = -8$, so $P(x) = 1 -8x + Cx^2 + Q(x)$, where $Q(x)$ is some polynomial divisible by $x^3$.

Then $P(-x) = 1 + 8x + Cx^2 + Q(-x)$ and so $P(x)\cdot P(-x) = 1 + (2C - 64)x^2 + R(x)$, where $R(x)$ is some polynomial divisible by $x^3$.

However, we also know $P(x)\cdot P(-x) = (1 - x)(1 + x)(1 +2x)(1 - 2x) \cdots (1 - 15x)(1 + 15x)$ $= (1 - x^2)(1 - 4x^2)\cdots(1 - 225x^2)$ $= 1 - (1 + 4 + \ldots + 225)x^2 + R(x)$.

Equating coefficients, we have $2C - 64 = -(1 + 4 + \ldots + 225) = -1240$, so $-2C = 1176$ and $|C| = \boxed{588}$.

See also

2004 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 6 		Followed by
Problem 8
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions
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