2020 AIME II Problem 11

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 11 of the 2020 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:polynomialVieta’s Formulassystem of equations

Difficulty rating: 2920

11.

Let P(x)=x23x7,P(x) = x^2 - 3x - 7, and let Q(x)Q(x) and R(x)R(x) be two quadratic polynomials also with the coefficient of x2x^2 equal to 1.1. David computes each of the three sums P+Q,P + Q, P+R,P + R, and Q+RQ + R and is surprised to find that each pair of these sums has a common root, and these three common roots are distinct. If Q(0)=2,Q(0) = 2, then R(0)=mn,R(0) = \frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

Let aa be the common root of P+QP+Q and P+R,P+R, let bb be that of P+QP+Q and Q+R,Q+R, and let cc be that of P+RP+R and Q+R.Q+R. Each sum is quadratic with leading coefficient 2,2, so P+Q=2(xa)(xb),P+Q = 2(x-a)(x-b), P+R=2(xa)(xc),P+R = 2(x-a)(x-c), and Q+R=2(xb)(xc).Q+R = 2(x-b)(x-c). Write Q=x2+qx+2Q = x^2 + qx + 2 and R=x2+rx+s.R = x^2 + rx + s. By Vieta's formulas, the root sums are a+b=3q2,a + b = \frac{3-q}{2}, a+c=3r2,a + c = \frac{3-r}{2}, and b+c=q+r2,b + c = -\frac{q+r}{2}, so 2a=(a+b)+(a+c)(b+c)=3q2+3r2+q+r2=3,2a = (a+b) + (a+c) - (b+c) = \frac{3-q}{2} + \frac{3-r}{2} + \frac{q+r}{2} = 3, giving a=32.a = \frac{3}{2}.

The constant term of P+QP + Q is 7+2=5,-7 + 2 = -5, so 2ab=52ab = -5 and b=53.b = -\frac{5}{3}. Also 2ac=P(0)+R(0)=s72ac = P(0) + R(0) = s - 7 and 2bc=Q(0)+R(0)=s+2.2bc = Q(0) + R(0) = s + 2. Subtracting, 2c(ba)=9,2c(b - a) = 9, so c=92(5332)=2719.c = \frac{9}{2\left(-\frac{5}{3} - \frac{3}{2}\right)} = -\frac{27}{19}.

Then s=2bc2=2(53)(2719)2=90193819=5219,s = 2bc - 2 = 2 \cdot \left(-\frac{5}{3}\right)\left(-\frac{27}{19}\right) - 2 = \frac{90}{19} - \frac{38}{19} = \frac{52}{19}, so R(0)=5219R(0) = \frac{52}{19} and m+n=52+19=71.m + n = 52 + 19 = 71.

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