2010 AIME I Problem 9

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 9 of the 2010 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2010 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:system of equationssubstitutionquadratic

Difficulty rating: 2740

9.

Let (a,b,c)(a, b, c) be a real solution of the system of equations x3xyz=2,y3xyz=6,z3xyz=20.x^3 - xyz = 2, \qquad y^3 - xyz = 6, \qquad z^3 - xyz = 20. The greatest possible value of a3+b3+c3a^3 + b^3 + c^3 can be written in the form mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

Adding xyzxyz to each equation gives x3=2+xyz,x^3 = 2 + xyz, y3=6+xyz,y^3 = 6 + xyz, and z3=20+xyz.z^3 = 20 + xyz. Let P=xyz.P = xyz. Multiplying the three equations yields P3=(2+P)(6+P)(20+P)=P3+28P2+172P+240,P^3 = (2 + P)(6 + P)(20 + P) = P^3 + 28P^2 + 172P + 240, so 28P2+172P+240=0,28P^2 + 172P + 240 = 0, i.e. 7P2+43P+60=0,7P^2 + 43P + 60 = 0, whose roots are P=157P = -\frac{15}{7} and P=4.P = -4. Each root is achievable: the cube roots of 2+P,2 + P, 6+P,6 + P, 20+P20 + P then really do have product P.P.

Adding the original equations, x3+y3+z3=28+3P,x^3 + y^3 + z^3 = 28 + 3P, which is maximized by the larger root P=157:P = -\frac{15}{7}: a3+b3+c3=28457=1517.a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = 28 - \frac{45}{7} = \frac{151}{7}. Thus m+n=151+7=158.m + n = 151 + 7 = 158.

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