2020 AIME I Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2020 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 2020 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

For integers a,a, b,b, c,c, and d,d, let f(x)=x2+ax+bf(x) = x^2 + ax + b and g(x)=x2+cx+d.g(x) = x^2 + cx + d. Find the number of ordered triples (a,b,c)(a, b, c) of integers with absolute values not exceeding 1010 for which there is an integer dd such that g(f(2))=g(f(4))=0.g(f(2)) = g(f(4)) = 0.

Answer: 510
Concepts:polynomialVieta’s Formulascasework
Difficulty rating: 2990
Solution:

The condition says the integers f(2)=4+2a+bf(2) = 4 + 2a + b and f(4)=16+4a+bf(4) = 16 + 4a + b are both roots of the monic quadratic g.g. These two values are equal exactly when a=6.a = -6.

If a=6,a = -6, then for any bb and any cc the choice d=f(2)2cf(2)d = -f(2)^2 - c\,f(2) makes f(2)=f(4)f(2) = f(4) a root of g,g, giving 2121=44121 \cdot 21 = 441 triples. If a6,a \ne -6, the two distinct values must be the two roots of g,g, so Vieta forces c=(f(2)+f(4))c = -(f(2) + f(4)) =(20+6a+2b),= -(20 + 6a + 2b), and then d=f(2)f(4)d = f(2)f(4) is an integer. The requirement c10|c| \le 10 becomes 153a+b5.-15 \le 3a + b \le -5.

For each a,a, count integers b[10,10]b \in [-10, 10] with 153ab53a:-15 - 3a \le b \le -5 - 3a: the counts are 2,5,11,11,11,11,9,6,32, 5, 11, 11, 11, 11, 9, 6, 3 for a=8,a = -8, 7,-7, 5,-5, 4,-4, 3,-3, 2,-2, 1,-1, 0,10, 1 respectively, and 00 for all other a6,a \ne -6, totaling 69.69. The answer is 441+69=510.441 + 69 = 510.

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