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Algebra Difficulty 5.9 AIME, harder Prove it Croatia

Let aa and bb be positive real numbers such that
ab+ba=3anda2b+b2a=10. \frac{a}{b} + \frac{b}{a} = 3 \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{a^2}{b} + \frac{b^2}{a} = 10.
Determine 1a+1b\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b}.
(Kristina Ana Škreb)

Solution

Let x=a/bx = a/b and y=b/ay = b/a. Since a,b>0a, b > 0, x,y>0x, y > 0 and xy=1xy = 1.

We are given:
ab+ba=x+y=3. \frac{a}{b} + \frac{b}{a} = x + y = 3.
Since xy=1xy = 1, xx and yy are the roots of t23t+1=0t^2 - 3t + 1 = 0.

Now,
a2b+b2a=a2b+b2a=aab+bba=ax+by. \frac{a^2}{b} + \frac{b^2}{a} = \frac{a^2}{b} + \frac{b^2}{a} = a \cdot \frac{a}{b} + b \cdot \frac{b}{a} = a x + b y.
But this is not immediately helpful. Instead, let us try expressing everything in terms of aa and bb.

Let S=a+bS = a + b, P=abP = ab.

We have:
ab+ba=a2+b2ab=3    a2+b2=3ab. \frac{a}{b} + \frac{b}{a} = \frac{a^2 + b^2}{ab} = 3 \implies a^2 + b^2 = 3ab.
Also,
a2b+b2a=a3+b3ab=10. \frac{a^2}{b} + \frac{b^2}{a} = \frac{a^3 + b^3}{ab} = 10.
So a3+b3=10aba^3 + b^3 = 10ab.

Recall that a3+b3=(a+b)33ab(a+b)=S33PSa^3 + b^3 = (a + b)^3 - 3ab(a + b) = S^3 - 3P S.

So:
S33PS=10P S^3 - 3P S = 10P
But from above, a2+b2=3ab    (a+b)22ab=3ab    S22P=3P    S2=5Pa^2 + b^2 = 3ab \implies (a + b)^2 - 2ab = 3ab \implies S^2 - 2P = 3P \implies S^2 = 5P.

Now, substitute P=S2/5P = S^2/5 into the cubic equation:
S33PS=10P S^3 - 3P S = 10P
S33PS10P=0 S^3 - 3P S - 10P = 0
S33SP10P=0 S^3 - 3S P - 10P = 0
S3(3S+10)P=0 S^3 - (3S + 10)P = 0
S3=(3S+10)P S^3 = (3S + 10)P
But P=S2/5P = S^2/5, so:
S3=(3S+10)S25 S^3 = (3S + 10) \cdot \frac{S^2}{5}
S3=(3S+10)S25 S^3 = \frac{(3S + 10) S^2}{5}
5S3=(3S+10)S2 5 S^3 = (3S + 10) S^2
5S33S310S2=0 5 S^3 - 3 S^3 - 10 S^2 = 0
2S310S2=0 2 S^3 - 10 S^2 = 0
2S3=10S2 2 S^3 = 10 S^2
S3=5S2 S^3 = 5 S^2
Since S>0S > 0, S=5S = 5.

Now, P=S2/5=25/5=5P = S^2/5 = 25/5 = 5.

Therefore, aa and bb are the roots of t2St+P=0t^2 - S t + P = 0, i.e.
t25t+5=0 t^2 - 5 t + 5 = 0
So
a,b=5±25202=5±52 a, b = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{25 - 20}}{2} = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{5}}{2}

Now,
1a+1b=a+bab=SP=55=1. \frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} = \frac{a + b}{ab} = \frac{S}{P} = \frac{5}{5} = 1.

Answer:
1 \boxed{1}

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