1990 AIME Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 1990 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 1990 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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4.

Find the positive solution to 1x210x29+1x210x452x210x69=0.\begin{aligned}&\frac1{x^2-10x-29}\\&\quad+\frac1{x^2-10x-45}\\&\quad-\frac2{x^2-10x-69}=0.\end{aligned}

Answer: 13
Concepts:substitutionrational equationquadratic
Difficulty rating: 1830
Small Hint:

Set y=x210xy=x^2-10x so the three denominators differ only by constants

Big Hint:

Combine the first two fractions before clearing denominators

Solution:

Set y=x210x.y=x^2-10x. Combining the first two fractions and clearing the nonzero denominators gives an equality between (y37)(y69)(y-37)(y-69) and (y29)(y45).(y-29)(y-45). Expanding and canceling y2y^2 yields y=39.y=39. Thus x210x39=0,x^2-10x-39=0, so (x13)(x+3)=0.(x-13)(x+3)=0. The positive solution is 13.13.

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