2022 AIME I Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2022 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 2022 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

Let x,x, y,y, and zz be positive real numbers satisfying the system of equations 2xxy+2yxy=1\sqrt{2x - xy} + \sqrt{2y - xy} = 1 2yyz+2zyz=2\sqrt{2y - yz} + \sqrt{2z - yz} = \sqrt{2} 2zzx+2xzx=3.\sqrt{2z - zx} + \sqrt{2x - zx} = \sqrt{3}. Then [(1x)(1y)(1z)]2\left[(1 - x)(1 - y)(1 - z)\right]^2 can be written as mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 33
Concepts:system of equationstrigonometric identitysubstitution
Difficulty rating: 3270
Solution:

Each radicand factors: 2xxy=x(2y),2x - xy = x(2 - y), and so on, so 0<x,y,z2.0 \lt x, y, z \le 2. Substitute x=2sin2α,x = 2\sin^2\alpha, y=2sin2β,y = 2\sin^2\beta, z=2sin2γz = 2\sin^2\gamma with α,β,γ(0,90].\alpha, \beta, \gamma \in \left(0^\circ, 90^\circ\right]. Then x(2y)=4sin2αcos2β\sqrt{x(2 - y)} = \sqrt{4\sin^2\alpha\cos^2\beta} =2sinαcosβ,= 2\sin\alpha\cos\beta, and each equation collapses by the sine addition formula: 2sin(α+β)=1,2\sin(\alpha + \beta) = 1, 2sin(β+γ)=2,2\sin(\beta + \gamma) = \sqrt{2}, 2sin(γ+α)=3.2\sin(\gamma + \alpha) = \sqrt{3}.

One admissible choice is α+β=30,\alpha + \beta = 30^\circ, β+γ=45,\beta + \gamma = 45^\circ, γ+α=60,\gamma + \alpha = 60^\circ, which gives α=22.5,\alpha = 22.5^\circ, β=7.5,\beta = 7.5^\circ, γ=37.5.\gamma = 37.5^\circ. The only other branch consistent with 0<α,β,γ900^\circ \lt \alpha,\beta,\gamma \le 90^\circ uses pairwise sums 150,135,120,150^\circ,135^\circ,120^\circ, giving α=67.5,\alpha = 67.5^\circ, β=82.5,\beta = 82.5^\circ, γ=52.5;\gamma = 52.5^\circ; its product below is the negative of the first branch's product, so the requested square is identical. For the first branch, the double-angle identity gives 1x=cos2α=cos45,1 - x = \cos 2\alpha = \cos 45^\circ, 1y=cos15,1 - y = \cos 15^\circ, and 1z=cos75.1 - z = \cos 75^\circ.

Therefore (1x)(1y)(1z)=22cos15sin15=22sin302=28, \begin{aligned} &(1 - x)(1 - y)(1 - z) \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\cos 15^\circ \\ &\quad {}\cdot \sin 15^\circ \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{\sin 30^\circ}{2} \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{8}, \end{aligned} whose square is 264=132.\frac{2}{64} = \frac{1}{32}. Thus m+n=1+32=33.m + n = 1 + 32 = 33.

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