Difference between revisions of "2014 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 25"

(Created page with "==Problem== Find the sum of all the positive solutions of <math> 2\cos2x \left(\cos2x - \cos{\left( \frac{2014\pi^2}{x} \right) } \right) = \cos4x - 1</math> <math> \textbf{(A...")
 
(Solution)
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
Rewrite <math>\cos{4x} - 1</math> as <math>2\cos^2{2x} - 2</math>.  Now let <math>x = \cos{2x}</math>, and let <math>y = \cos{\left( \frac{2014\pi^2}{x} \right) }</math>.  We have  
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Rewrite <math>\cos{4x} - 1</math> as <math>2\cos^2{2x} - 2</math>.  Now let <math>a = \cos{2x}</math>, and let <math>b = \cos{\left( \frac{2014\pi^2}{x} \right) }</math>.  We have  
<cmath>2x(x - y) = 2x^2 - 2</cmath>
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<cmath>2a(a - b) = 2a^2 - 2</cmath>
<cmath>xy = 1</cmath>
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<cmath>ab = 1</cmath>
Notice that <math>x = 1</math> and <math>y = 1</math> or <math>x = -1</math> and <math>y = -1</math>.
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Notice that either <math>a = 1</math> and <math>b = 1</math> or <math>a = -1</math> and <math>b = -1</math>. For the first case, $x = 1

Revision as of 18:04, 20 February 2014

Problem

Find the sum of all the positive solutions of

$2\cos2x \left(\cos2x - \cos{\left( \frac{2014\pi^2}{x} \right) } \right) = \cos4x - 1$

$\textbf{(A)}\ \pi \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 35\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1008\pi \qquad\textbf{(D)}}\ 1080 \pi \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 1800\pi$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

Solution

Rewrite $\cos{4x} - 1$ as $2\cos^2{2x} - 2$. Now let $a = \cos{2x}$, and let $b = \cos{\left( \frac{2014\pi^2}{x} \right) }$. We have \[2a(a - b) = 2a^2 - 2\] \[ab = 1\] Notice that either $a = 1$ and $b = 1$ or $a = -1$ and $b = -1$. For the first case, $x = 1