2017 AIME II Problem 7

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7.

Find the number of integer values of kk in the closed interval [500,500][-500, 500] for which the equation log(kx)=2log(x+2)\log(kx) = 2\log(x + 2) has exactly one real solution.

Answer: 501
Concepts:logarithmquadraticcasework
Difficulty rating: 2740
Solution:

The equation requires x+2>0x + 2 \gt 0 and kx>0,kx \gt 0, and under those restrictions it is equivalent to kx=(x+2)2,kx = (x + 2)^2, that is, x2+(4k)x+4=0.x^2 + (4 - k)x + 4 = 0.

For k<0k \lt 0 the restrictions force 2<x<0.-2 \lt x \lt 0. On this interval kxkx decreases from 2k>0-2k \gt 0 to 00 while (x+2)2(x + 2)^2 increases from 00 to 4,4, so the graphs cross exactly once. Hence every one of the 500500 negative values of kk works, while k=0k = 0 makes log(kx)\log(kx) undefined.

For k>0k \gt 0 the restrictions force x>0.x \gt 0. The quadratic has root product 4,4, so any real roots have the same sign, and the discriminant (4k)216=k(k8)(4 - k)^2 - 16 = k(k - 8) is negative for 0<k<8.0 \lt k \lt 8. When k>8k \gt 8 there are two distinct positive roots (root sum k4>0k - 4 \gt 0), giving two solutions; only k=8k = 8 gives exactly one solution, the double root x=2.x = 2. In total 500+1=501500 + 1 = 501 values of kk work.

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