Difference between revisions of "2012 AIME II Problems/Problem 8"

m (Solution)
Line 4: Line 4:
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Multiplying the two equations together gives us <cmath>zw + 32i - \frac{240}{zw} = -30 + 46i</cmath> and multiplying by <math>zw</math> then gives us a quadratic in <math>zw</math>: <cmath>(zw)^2 + (30-14i)zw - 240 =0.</cmath> Using the quadratic formula, we find the two possible values of <math>zw</math> to be <math>7i-15 \pm \sqrt{(7i-15)^2 + 240}</math> = <math>6+2i,</math> <math>12i - 36.</math> The smallest possible value of <math>\vert zw\vert^2</math> is then obviously <math>6^2 + 2^2 = \boxed{040.}</math>
+
Multiplying the two equations together gives us <cmath>zw + 32i - \frac{240}{zw} = -30 + 46i</cmath> and multiplying by <math>zw</math> then gives us a quadratic in <math>zw</math>: <cmath>(zw)^2 + (30-14i)zw - 240 =0.</cmath> Using the quadratic formula, we find the two possible values of <math>zw</math> to be <math>7i-15 \pm \sqrt{(30-14i)^2 + 240}</math> = <math>6+2i,</math> <math>12i - 36.</math> The smallest possible value of <math>\vert zw\vert^2</math> is then obviously <math>6^2 + 2^2 = \boxed{040.}</math>
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=2012|n=II|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2012|n=II|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 20:43, 15 February 2015

Problem 8

The complex numbers $z$ and $w$ satisfy the system \[z + \frac{20i}w = 5+i \\ \\ w+\frac{12i}z = -4+10i\] Find the smallest possible value of $\vert zw\vert^2$.

Solution

Multiplying the two equations together gives us \[zw + 32i - \frac{240}{zw} = -30 + 46i\] and multiplying by $zw$ then gives us a quadratic in $zw$: \[(zw)^2 + (30-14i)zw - 240 =0.\] Using the quadratic formula, we find the two possible values of $zw$ to be $7i-15 \pm \sqrt{(30-14i)^2 + 240}$ = $6+2i,$ $12i - 36.$ The smallest possible value of $\vert zw\vert^2$ is then obviously $6^2 + 2^2 = \boxed{040.}$

See Also

2012 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png