2019 AIME I Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 2019 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 2019 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

12.

Given f(z)=z219z,f(z) = z^2 - 19z, there are complex numbers zz with the property that z,z, f(z),f(z), and f(f(z))f(f(z)) are the vertices of a right triangle in the complex plane with a right angle at f(z).f(z). There are positive integers mm and nn such that one such value of zz is m+n+11i.m + \sqrt{n} + 11i. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 230
Concepts:complex numberpolynomialfactoring
Difficulty rating: 2920
Solution:

Since f(w)w=w(w20),f(w) - w = w(w - 20), the two legs at f(z)f(z) are f(z)z=z(z20),f(f(z))f(z)=f(z)(f(z)20)=z(z19)(z20)(z+1), \begin{gathered} f(z) - z = z(z - 20), \\ f(f(z)) - f(z) = f(z) \\ {}\cdot \bigl(f(z) - 20\bigr) \\ = z(z - 19)(z - 20) \\ {}\cdot (z + 1), \end{gathered} using f(z)=z(z19)f(z) = z(z - 19) and f(z)20=(z20)(z+1).f(z) - 20 = (z - 20)(z + 1). They are perpendicular exactly when their quotient (z19)(z+1)(z - 19)(z + 1) is purely imaginary and nonzero.

Write z=x+11i.z = x + 11i. The real part of (z19)(z+1)=z218z19(z - 19)(z + 1) = z^2 - 18z - 19 is x212118x19,x^2 - 121 - 18x - 19, so we need x218x140=0,x^2 - 18x - 140 = 0, giving x=9±221.x = 9 \pm \sqrt{221}. The form m+n+11im + \sqrt{n} + 11i with m,nm, n positive integers requires x=9+221.x = 9 + \sqrt{221}.

Hence m+n=9+221=230.m + n = 9 + 221 = 230.

← Problem 11#11
Full Exam

Problem 12 in Other Years