1997 AIME Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 1997 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 1997 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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12.

The function ff defined by f(x)=ax+bcx+d,f(x) = \frac{ax + b}{cx + d}, where a,a, b,b, c,c, and dd are nonzero real numbers, has the properties f(19)=19,f(19) = 19, f(97)=97,f(97) = 97, and f(f(x))=xf(f(x)) = x for all values except dc.\frac{-d}{c}. Find the unique number that is not in the range of f.f.

Answer: 58
Concepts:functional equationrational equationVieta’s Formulas
Difficulty rating: 2560
Small Hint:

f(f(x))=xf(f(x)) = x means ff is its own inverse; comparing coefficients forces d=ad = -a

Big Hint:

1919 and 9797 are the roots of cx2+(da)xb=0,cx^2 + (d - a)x - b = 0, and the missing value is the horizontal asymptote ac\frac{a}{c}

Solution:

Composing, f(f(x))=(a2+bc)x+b(a+d)c(a+d)x+(bc+d2),f(f(x)) = \frac{(a^2 + bc)x + b(a + d)}{c(a + d)x + (bc + d^2)}, and this equals xx identically only if c(a+d)=0.c(a + d) = 0. Since c0,c \ne 0, we get d=a,d = -a, so f(x)=ax+bcxa.f(x) = \frac{ax + b}{cx - a}.

A fixed point satisfies cx2ax=ax+b,cx^2 - ax = ax + b, i.e. cx22axb=0,cx^2 - 2ax - b = 0, whose roots are 1919 and 97.97. By Vieta’s formulas, 19+97=2ac,19 + 97 = \frac{2a}{c}, so ac=58.\frac{a}{c} = 58.

Finally, yy is in the range exactly when y=ax+bcxay = \frac{ax + b}{cx - a} has a solution, i.e. x(cya)=ay+b.x(cy - a) = ay + b. This solves for xx unless cya=0;cy - a = 0; and when y=ac,y = \frac{a}{c}, the right side a2c+b=a2+bcc\frac{a^2}{c} + b = \frac{a^2 + bc}{c} is nonzero (otherwise the fractional-linear expression would be degenerate, contrary to its two distinct fixed points). So the unique number not in the range is ac=58.\frac{a}{c} = 58.

Problem 11#11
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