2014 AIME II Problem 5

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5.

Real numbers rr and ss are roots of p(x)=x3+ax+b,p(x) = x^3 + ax + b, and r+4r + 4 and s3s - 3 are roots of q(x)=x3+ax+b+240.q(x) = x^3 + ax + b + 240. Find the sum of all possible values of b.|b|.

Answer: 420
Concepts:polynomialVieta’s Formulassystem of equations
Difficulty rating: 2560
Solution:

Both cubics have zero x2x^2 coefficient, so their roots sum to 0:0: the third root of pp is t=rs,t = -r - s, and the third root of qq is (r+4)(s3)=t1.-(r+4) - (s-3) = t - 1. The coefficient of xx is aa in both, so rs+st+tr=(r+4)(s3)+(s3)(t1)+(t1)(r+4), \begin{aligned} &rs + st + tr \\ &= (r+4)(s-3) \\ &\quad {}+ (s-3)(t-1) \\ &\quad {}+ (t-1)(r+4), \end{aligned} which simplifies to t=4r3s+13.t = 4r - 3s + 13.

The constant terms give b=rstb = -rst and b+240=b + 240 = (r+4)(s3)(t1),-(r+4)(s-3)(t-1), so 240=240 = rst(r+4)(s3)(t1),rst - (r+4)(s-3)(t-1), i.e. rs4st+3tr3rrs - 4st + 3tr - 3r +4s+12t252=0.+ 4s + 12t - 252 = 0. Substituting t=4r3s+13t = 4r - 3s + 13 reduces this to 12[(rs)2+7(rs)8]=0,12\left[(r-s)^2 + 7(r-s) - 8\right] = 0, so rs=1r - s = 1 or rs=8.r - s = -8.

If rs=1,r - s = 1, then t=4r3s+13=r+16t = 4r - 3s + 13 = r + 16 and t=rs=2r+1,t = -r - s = -2r + 1, so r=5:r = -5: the roots are 5,-5, 6,-6, 11,11, and b=rst=330.b = -rst = -330. If rs=8,r - s = -8, then t=r11=2r8,t = r - 11 = -2r - 8, so r=1:r = 1: the roots are 1,1, 9,9, 10,-10, and b=90.b = 90. The requested sum is 330+90=420.330 + 90 = 420.

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