2022 AIME II Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 2022 AIME II 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 II solutions, or check the answer key.

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

4.

There is a positive real number xx not equal to either 120\frac{1}{20} or 12\frac{1}{2} such that log20x(22x)=log2x(202x).\log_{20x}(22x) = \log_{2x}(202x). The value log20x(22x)\log_{20x}(22x) can be written as log10(mn),\log_{10}\left(\frac{m}{n}\right), where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 112
Concepts:logarithmalgebraic manipulation
Difficulty rating: 2350
Solution:

Let yy be the common value. In natural logarithms, y=ln22xln20x=ln202xln2x.y = \frac{\ln 22x}{\ln 20x} = \frac{\ln 202x}{\ln 2x}. When two fractions are equal, each also equals the quotient of the differences of numerators and denominators: y=ln202xln22xln2xln20x=ln10111ln110=log1010111=log1011101. \begin{aligned} y &= \frac{\ln 202x - \ln 22x}{\ln 2x - \ln 20x} \\ &= \frac{\ln \frac{101}{11}}{\ln \frac{1}{10}} \\ &= -\log_{10}\frac{101}{11} \\ &= \log_{10}\frac{11}{101}. \end{aligned}

To check existence rather than merely use the promised x,x, note that y1.y \ne 1. Setting lnx=yln20ln221y \ln x=\frac{y\ln 20-\ln 22}{1-y} makes ln(22x)=yln(20x).\ln(22x)=y\ln(20x). Also ln(202x)ln(22x)=ln10111=yln110, \begin{aligned} \ln(202x)-\ln(22x) &= \ln\frac{101}{11} \\ &= y\ln\frac{1}{10}, \end{aligned} so ln(202x)=yln(2x)\ln(202x)=y\ln(2x) as well. This positive xx is neither excluded value (neither one satisfies the displayed linear equation), so both logarithm bases are valid. Since gcd(11,101)=1,\gcd(11,101)=1, we get m+n=11+101=112.m+n=11+101=112.

← Problem 3#3
Full Exam

Problem 4 in Other Years