Difference between revisions of "2012 AIME I Problems/Problem 6"

(Omitted Solution 2, which was the same as Solution 1 but with worse wording.)
(Solution)
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
Substituting the first equation into the second, we find that <math>(z^{13})^{11} = z</math> and thus <math>z^{142} = 1.</math> So <math>z</math> must be a <math>142</math>nd root of unity, and thus the imaginary part of <math>z</math> will be <math>\sin{\frac{2k\pi}{142}} = \sin{\frac{k\pi}{71}}</math> for some <math>k</math> with <math>0 \le k < 142.</math> But note that <math>71</math> is prime and <math>k<71</math> by the conditions of the problem, so the denominator in the argument of this value will always be <math>71</math> and thus <math>n = \boxed{071.}</math>
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Substituting the first equation into the second, we find that <math>(z^{13})^{11} = z</math> and thus <math>z^{143} = z.</math> <math>z \neq 0,</math> because <math>\text{Im}(z)</math> is given as <math>\sin(\text{something ugly}),</math> so we can divide by <math>z</math> to get <math>z^{142} = 1.</math> So, <math>z</math> must be a <math>142</math>nd root of unity, and thus the imaginary part of <math>z</math> will be of the form <math>\sin{\frac{2k\pi}{142}} = \sin{\frac{k\pi}{71}},</math> where <math>k \in \{1, 2, \ldots, 141\}.</math> But note that <math>71</math> is prime and <math>k<71</math> by the conditions of the problem, so the denominator in the argument of this value will always be <math>71</math> and thus <math>n = \boxed{071.}</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=2012|n=I|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2012|n=I|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 01:54, 26 February 2014

Problem 6

The complex numbers $z$ and $w$ satisfy $z^{13} = w,$ $w^{11} = z,$ and the imaginary part of $z$ is $\sin{\frac{m\pi}{n}}$, for relatively prime positive integers $m$ and $n$ with $m<n.$ Find $n.$

Solution

Substituting the first equation into the second, we find that $(z^{13})^{11} = z$ and thus $z^{143} = z.$ $z \neq 0,$ because $\text{Im}(z)$ is given as $\sin(\text{something ugly}),$ so we can divide by $z$ to get $z^{142} = 1.$ So, $z$ must be a $142$nd root of unity, and thus the imaginary part of $z$ will be of the form $\sin{\frac{2k\pi}{142}} = \sin{\frac{k\pi}{71}},$ where $k \in \{1, 2, \ldots, 141\}.$ But note that $71$ is prime and $k<71$ by the conditions of the problem, so the denominator in the argument of this value will always be $71$ and thus $n = \boxed{071.}$

See also

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

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