2002 AIME II Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2002 AIME II 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 II solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

Two distinct, real, infinite geometric series each have a sum of 11 and have the same second term. The third term of one of the series is 18,\frac{1}{8}, and the second term of both series can be written in the form mnp,\frac{\sqrt{m} - n}{p}, where m,m, n,n, and pp are positive integers and mm is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find 100m+10n+p.100m + 10n + p.

Answer: 518
Concepts:geometric sequencepolynomialfactoring
Difficulty rating: 2760
Solution:

A geometric series with ratio rr and sum 11 has first term 1r,1 - r, so its second term is r(1r).r(1 - r). If the two ratios are rr and s,s, then r(1r)=s(1s)r(1 - r) = s(1 - s) gives rs=r2s2,r - s = r^2 - s^2, and since the series are distinct, rs,r \ne s, forcing s=1r.s = 1 - r.

Say the series with ratio rr has third term r2(1r)=18,r^2(1 - r) = \frac{1}{8}, i.e. 8r38r2+1=0.8r^3 - 8r^2 + 1 = 0. Substituting t=2rt = 2r gives t32t2+1t^3 - 2t^2 + 1 =(t1)(t2t1)= (t - 1)(t^2 - t - 1) =0.= 0. The root t=1t = 1 makes r=s=12r = s = \frac{1}{2} (the series would coincide), and r=154r = \frac{1 - \sqrt{5}}{4} forces s=1r>1,s = 1 - r \gt 1, which diverges. So r=1+54.r = \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{4}.

The common second term is r(1r)=1+54354=25216=518, \begin{aligned} r(1 - r) &= \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{4} \cdot \frac{3 - \sqrt{5}}{4} \\ &= \frac{2\sqrt{5} - 2}{16} \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{5} - 1}{8}, \end{aligned} so m=5,m = 5, n=1,n = 1, p=8,p = 8, and 100m+10n+p=518.100m + 10n + p = 518.

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