1994 AIME Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1994 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 1994 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

The function ff has the property that, for each real number x,x, f(x)+f(x1)=x2.f(x)+f(x-1)=x^2. If f(19)=94,f(19)=94, what is the remainder when f(94)f(94) is divided by 1000?1000?

Answer: 561
Concepts:recursionsummationmodular arithmetic
Difficulty rating: 1900
Small Hint:

First use x=20x=20 to find f(20)f(20)

Big Hint:

Eliminate alternating terms by deriving a recurrence from f(x)f(x) to f(x2)f(x-2)

Solution:

First f(20)=202f(19)=306.f(20)=20^2-f(19)=306. Subtracting through two steps gives f(x)=x2(x1)2+f(x2)=2x1+f(x2).\begin{aligned}f(x)&=x^2-(x-1)^2+f(x-2)\\&=2x-1+f(x-2).\end{aligned} Therefore f(94)=306+j=1147(4j1)=306+4(1073)37=4561.\begin{aligned}f(94)&=306+\sum_{j=11}^{47}(4j-1)\\&=306+4(1073)-37\\&=4561.\end{aligned} The requested remainder is 561.561.

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