1985 AIME Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1985 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 1985 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

Find cc if a,a, b,b, and cc are positive integers which satisfy c=(a+bi)3107i,c=(a+bi)^3-107i, where i2=1.i^2=-1.

Answer: 198
Concepts:complex numberDiophantine Equationfactoring
Difficulty rating: 2160
Small Hint:

Expand (a+bi)3(a+bi)^3 and set its imaginary part equal to 107107

Big Hint:

The resulting equation shows that the positive integer bb divides 107107

Solution:

Expanding and using that cc is real gives b(3a2b2)=107. b(3a^2-b^2)=107. Since 107107 is prime, b=1b=1 or 107.107. The latter would require 3a2=11450,3a^2=11450, which is impossible. Thus b=1,b=1, and 3a21=107,3a^2-1=107, so a=6.a=6. The real part is c=a33ab2=21618=198. c=a^3-3ab^2=216-18=198.

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