2003 AIME I Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 2003 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 2003 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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4.

Given that log10sinx+log10cosx=1\log_{10} \sin x + \log_{10} \cos x = -1 and that log10(sinx+cosx)\log_{10}(\sin x + \cos x) =12(log10n1),= \frac{1}{2}(\log_{10} n - 1), find n.n.

Answer: 12
Concepts:logarithmtrigonometric identity
Difficulty rating: 1990
Solution:

The first equation says log10(sinxcosx)=1,\log_{10}(\sin x \cos x) = -1, so sinxcosx=110.\sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{10}. Then (sinx+cosx)2=sin2x+cos2x+2sinxcosx=1+210=1210. \begin{aligned} (\sin x + \cos x)^2 &= \sin^2 x + \cos^2 x \\ &\quad {}+ 2 \sin x \cos x \\ &= 1 + \frac{2}{10} = \frac{12}{10}. \end{aligned}

Taking logarithms, 2log10(sinx+cosx)2\log_{10}(\sin x + \cos x) =log101210= \log_{10} \frac{12}{10} =log10121,= \log_{10} 12 - 1, so log10(sinx+cosx)\log_{10}(\sin x + \cos x) =12(log10121)= \frac{1}{2}(\log_{10} 12 - 1) and n=12.n = 12.

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