1983 AIME Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1983 AIME below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1983 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

What is the product of the real roots of the equation x2+18x+30=2x2+18x+45? \begin{gathered} x^2+18x+30\\ {}=2\sqrt{x^2+18x+45}? \end{gathered}

Answer: 20
Concepts:radicalsubstitutionVieta’s Formulas
Difficulty rating: 2210
Small Hint:

The expression outside the radical is 1515 less than the radicand

Big Hint:

Set t=x2+18x+45t=\sqrt{x^2+18x+45} and solve t215=2tt^2-15=2t

Solution:

Set t=x2+18x+45,t=\sqrt{x^2+18x+45}, so t0.t\geq0. The equation becomes t215=2t, t^2-15=2t, or (t5)(t+3)=0.(t-5)(t+3)=0. Thus t=5,t=5, and x2+18x+45=25, x^2+18x+45=25, so the real roots satisfy x2+18x+20=0.x^2+18x+20=0. By Vieta’s formulas, their product is 20.20.

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