2010 AIME II Problem 7

Attempt Problem 7 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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7.

Let P(z)=z3+az2+bz+c,P(z) = z^3 + az^2 + bz + c, where a,a, b,b, and cc are real. There exists a complex number ww such that the three roots of P(z)P(z) are w+3i,w + 3i, w+9i,w + 9i, and 2w4,2w - 4, where i2=1.i^2 = -1. Find a+b+c.|a + b + c|.

Answer: 136
Concepts:complex numberpolynomialVieta’s Formulas
Difficulty rating: 2410
Small Hint:

The sum of the roots, 4w+12i4,4w + 12i - 4, must be real; this determines the imaginary part of ww

Big Hint:

Real coefficients force the two non-real roots to be conjugates, and 1+a+b+c=P(1)1 + a + b + c = P(1)

Solution:

Write w=x+yiw = x + yi with xx and yy real. The sum of the roots is 4w+12i4=a,4w + 12i - 4 = -a, which is real, so 4y+12=04y + 12 = 0 and y=3.y = -3. The roots are then x,x, x+6i,x + 6i, and 2x46i.2x - 4 - 6i. Because the coefficients are real, the two non-real roots must be conjugates, so 2x4=x,2x - 4 = x, giving x=4.x = 4. The roots are 4,4, 4+6i,4 + 6i, and 46i.4 - 6i.

Now 1+a+b+c=P(1)=(14)(1(4+6i))(1(46i))=(3)(9+36)=135, \begin{aligned} 1 + a + b + c &= P(1) \\ &= (1 - 4) \\ &\quad {}\cdot \bigl(1 - (4 + 6i)\bigr) \\ &\quad {}\cdot \bigl(1 - (4 - 6i)\bigr) \\ &= (-3)(9 + 36) \\ &= -135, \end{aligned} so a+b+c=136a + b + c = -136 and a+b+c=136.|a + b + c| = 136.

Problem 6#6
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