2010 AIME II Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2010 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 2010 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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6.

Find the smallest positive integer nn with the property that the polynomial x4nx+63x^4 - nx + 63 can be written as a product of two nonconstant polynomials with integer coefficients.

Answer: 8
Concepts:polynomialfactoringcasework
Difficulty rating: 2500
Small Hint:

Try splitting into two quadratics (x2+px+q)(x2px+r);(x^2 + px + q)(x^2 - px + r); matching coefficients gives q+r=p2q + r = p^2 and qr=63qr = 63

Big Hint:

Look for factor pairs of 6363 whose sum is a perfect square, and also compare with the case of a linear factor, whose root must divide 6363

Solution:

If there is a linear factor, then some integer bb is a root, so b4nb+63=0b^4 - nb + 63 = 0 and n=b3+63b,n = b^3 + \frac{63}{b}, forcing 6363 to be divisible by bb and b>0.b \gt 0. The smallest value is 48,48, at b=3.b = 3.

Otherwise the polynomial splits into two quadratics, which we may take monic; since the x3x^3 coefficient vanishes, they have the form (x2+px+q)(x2px+r)=x4+(q+rp2)x2+p(rq)x+qr. \begin{aligned} &(x^2 + px + q)(x^2 - px + r) \\ &= x^4 + (q + r - p^2)x^2 \\ &\quad {}+ p(r - q)x + qr. \end{aligned} Matching coefficients gives q+r=p2,q + r = p^2, qr=63,qr = 63, and n=p(qr).n = p(q - r). The factor pairs of 6363 with square sum are {7,9}\{7, 9\} (sum 16,16, so p=4p = 4) and {1,63}\{1, 63\} (sum 64,64, so p=8p = 8), giving n=42=8n = 4 \cdot 2 = 8 or n=862=496.n = 8 \cdot 62 = 496.

The smallest positive value overall is n=8;n = 8; indeed (x2+4x+9)(x24x+7)(x^2 + 4x + 9)(x^2 - 4x + 7) =x48x+63.= x^4 - 8x + 63.

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