2020 AIME II Problem 3

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 3 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:logarithmrational equation

Difficulty rating: 1950

3.

The value of xx that satisfies log2x320=log2x+332020\log_{2^x} 3^{20} = \log_{2^{x+3}} 3^{2020} can be written as mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

By the change-of-base formula, log2x320=20log3xlog2andlog2x+332020=2020log3(x+3)log2.\log_{2^x} 3^{20} = \frac{20 \log 3}{x \log 2} \qquad \text{and} \qquad \log_{2^{x+3}} 3^{2020} = \frac{2020 \log 3}{(x + 3) \log 2}. Cancelling the common factor log3log2\frac{\log 3}{\log 2} leaves 20x=2020x+3.\frac{20}{x} = \frac{2020}{x + 3}.

Cross-multiplying gives 20x+60=2020x,20x + 60 = 2020x, so 2000x=602000x = 60 and x=3100.x = \frac{3}{100}. Thus m+n=3+100=103.m + n = 3 + 100 = 103.

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