2013 AIME I Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 2013 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 2013 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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10.

There are nonzero integers a,a, b,b, r,r, and ss such that the complex number r+sir + si is a zero of the polynomial P(x)=x3−ax2+bx−65.P(x) = x^3 - ax^2 + bx - 65. For each possible combination of aa and b,b, let pa,bp_{a,b} be the sum of the zeros of P(x).P(x). Find the sum of the pa,bp_{a,b}’s for all possible combinations of aa and b.b.
Answer: 80
Concepts:polynomialcomplex numberVieta’s Formulas
Small hint:
Real coefficients force the zeros to be r±sir \pm si and a real qq with q(r2+s2)=65q(r^2 + s^2) = 65
Big hint:
List the ways a factor of 6565 is a sum of two nonzero squares; for each, the choices ±r\pm r cancel in the sum, leaving only the qq’s
Solution:
Since PP has real coefficients, r−sir - si is also a zero, and the third zero qq is real. The sum of the zeros is q+2r=a,q + 2r = a, so q=a−2rq = a - 2r is a nonzero integer. Their product is q(r2+s2)=65,q(r^2 + s^2) = 65, so r2+s2r^2 + s^2 is a factor of 65.65. With rr and ss nonzero, the possibilities are r2+s2=5=12+22r^2 + s^2 = 5 = 1^2 + 2^2 (with q=13q = 13), 13=22+3213 = 2^2 + 3^2 (with q=5q = 5), and 65=12+82=42+7265 = 1^2 + 8^2 = 4^2 + 7^2 (with q=1q = 1).
For each representation {u,v},\{u, v\}, the zero r+sir + si can have r=±ur = \pm u or ±v,\pm v, giving 44 distinct polynomials (the sign of ss changes nothing). The sum of the zeros is pa,b=q+2r,p_{a,b} = q + 2r, and over the four choices the 2r2r terms cancel, leaving 4q4q from each representation.
The total is 4⋅13+4⋅5+4⋅1+4⋅1=80.4 \cdot 13 + 4 \cdot 5 + 4 \cdot 1 + 4 \cdot 1 = 80.
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