2002 AIME I Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2002 AIME I 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 2002 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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6.

The solutions to the system of equations log⁡225x+log⁡64y=4\log_{225} x + \log_{64} y = 4 log⁡x225−log⁡y64=1\log_x 225 - \log_y 64 = 1 are (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and (x2,y2).(x_2, y_2). Find log⁡30(x1y1x2y2).\log_{30}\left(x_1 y_1 x_2 y_2\right).

Answer: 12
Concepts:logarithmVieta’s Formulassubstitution
Difficulty rating: 2360
Small Hint:

Set p=log⁡225xp = \log_{225} x and q=log⁡64y,q = \log_{64} y, using log⁡x225=1p\log_x 225 = \frac{1}{p} and log⁡y64=1q\log_y 64 = \frac{1}{q}

Big Hint:

You only need p1+p2p_1 + p_2 and q1+q2,q_1 + q_2, since x1x2=225p1+p2;x_1 x_2 = 225^{p_1 + p_2}; get them from p2−6p+4=0p^2 - 6p + 4 = 0 by Vieta

Solution:

Let p=log⁡225xp = \log_{225} x and q=log⁡64y,q = \log_{64} y, so log⁡x225=1p\log_x 225 = \frac{1}{p} and log⁡y64=1q.\log_y 64 = \frac{1}{q}. The system becomes p+q=4p + q = 4 and 1p−1q=1.\frac{1}{p} - \frac{1}{q} = 1. Substituting q=4−pq = 4 - p into the second equation and clearing denominators gives 4−2p=p(4−p),4 - 2p = p(4 - p), that is, p2−6p+4=0.p^2 - 6p + 4 = 0.

The two solutions of the system correspond to the two roots of this quadratic, so by Vieta’s formulas p1+p2=6,p_1 + p_2 = 6, and then q1+q2=8−6=2.q_1 + q_2 = 8 - 6 = 2. Hence x1y1x2y2=225p1+p2⋅64q1+q2=2256⋅642=1512⋅212=3012, \begin{aligned} x_1 y_1 x_2 y_2 &= 225^{p_1 + p_2} \cdot 64^{q_1 + q_2} \\ &= 225^6 \cdot 64^2 \\ &= 15^{12} \cdot 2^{12} \\ &= 30^{12}, \end{aligned} so log⁡30(x1y1x2y2)=12.\log_{30}\left(x_1 y_1 x_2 y_2\right) = 12.

Problem 5#5
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