# Difference between revisions of "2019 AIME II Problems/Problem 10"

## Problem 10

There is a unique angle $\theta$ between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ such that for nonnegative integers $n$, the value of $\tan{\left(2^{n}\theta\right)}$ is positive when $n$ is a multiple of $3$, and negative otherwise. The degree measure of $\theta$ is $\tfrac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime integers. Find $p+q$.

## Solution

Note that if $\tan \theta$ is positive, then $\theta$ is in the first or third quadrant, so $0^{\circ} < \theta < 90^{\circ} \pmod{180^{\circ}}$. Also notice that the only way $\tan{\left(2^{n}\theta\right)}$ can be positive for all $n$ that are multiples of $3$ is when $2^0\theta, 2^3\theta, 2^6\theta$, etc. are all the same value $\pmod{180^{\circ}}$. This happens if $8\theta = \theta \pmod{180^{\circ}}$, so $7\theta = 0^{\circ} \pmod{180^{\circ}}$. Therefore, the only possible values of theta between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ are $\frac{180}{7}^{\circ}$, $\frac{360}{7}^{\circ}$, and $\frac{540}{7}^{\circ}$. However $\frac{180}{7}^{\circ}$ does not work since $\tan{2 \cdot \frac{180}{7}^{\circ}}$ is positive, and $\frac{360}{7}^{\circ}$ does not work because $\tan{4 \cdot \frac{360}{7}^{\circ}}$ is positive. Thus, $\theta = \frac{540}{7}^{\circ}$. $540 + 7 = \boxed{547}$.