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Algebra Difficulty 5.3 AIME, harder Find the answer

Let x,yx, y, and NN be real numbers, with yy nonzero, such that the sets {(x+y)2,(xy)2,xy,x/y}\left\{(x+y)^{2},(x-y)^{2}, x y, x / y\right\} and {4,12.8,28.8,N}\{4,12.8,28.8, N\} are equal. Compute the sum of the possible values of NN.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

First, suppose that xx and yy were of different signs. Then xy<0x y<0 and x/y<0x / y<0, but the set has at most one negative value, a contradiction. Hence, xx and yy have the same sign; without loss of generality, we say xx and yy are both positive. Let (s,d):=(x+y,xy)(s, d):=(x+y, x-y). Then the set given is equal to {s2,d2,14(s2d2),s+dsd}\left\{s^{2}, d^{2}, \frac{1}{4}\left(s^{2}-d^{2}\right), \frac{s+d}{s-d}\right\}. We split into two cases: - Case 1: s+dsd=N\frac{s+d}{s-d}=N. This forces s2=28.8s^{2}=28.8 and d2=12.8d^{2}=12.8, since 14(28.812.8)=4\frac{1}{4}(28.8-12.8)=4. Then s=120.2s=12 \sqrt{0.2} and d=±80.2d= \pm 8 \sqrt{0.2}, so NN is either 12+8128=5\frac{12+8}{12-8}=5 or 12812+8=0.2\frac{12-8}{12+8}=0.2. - Case 2: s+dsdN\frac{s+d}{s-d} \neq N. Suppose s+dsd=k\frac{s+d}{s-d}=k, so (s,d)=((k+1)t,(k1)t)(s, d)=((k+1) t,(k-1) t) for some tt. Then s2:d2s^{2}: d^{2} : 14(s2d2)=(k+1)2:(k1)2:k\frac{1}{4}\left(s^{2}-d^{2}\right)=(k+1)^{2}:(k-1)^{2}: k. Trying k=4,12.8,28.8k=4,12.8,28.8 reveals that only k=4k=4 is possible, since 28.8:12.8=(41)2:428.8: 12.8=(4-1)^{2}: 4. This forces N=s2=52412.8=80N=s^{2}=\frac{5^{2}}{4} \cdot 12.8=80. Hence, our final total is 5+0.2+80=85.25+0.2+80=85.2

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.