2023 AIME II Problem 8

Attempt Problem 8 of the 2023 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 2023 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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8.

Let ω=cos2π7+isin2π7,\omega = \cos\frac{2\pi}{7} + i \cdot \sin\frac{2\pi}{7}, where i=1.i = \sqrt{-1}. Find the value of the product k=06(ω3k+ωk+1).\prod_{k=0}^{6} \left(\omega^{3k} + \omega^k + 1\right).

Answer: 24
Concepts:roots of unitypolynomialcomplex number
Difficulty rating: 2840
Solution:

Let P(x)=x3+x+1,P(x) = x^3 + x + 1, so the product is k=06P(ωk),\prod_{k=0}^{6} P(\omega^k), where ω0,,ω6\omega^0, \ldots, \omega^6 are all seventh roots of unity. Since x71=k(xωk),x^7 - 1 = \prod_k (x - \omega^k), writing P(x)P(x) =(xβ1)(xβ2)(xβ3)= (x - \beta_1)(x - \beta_2)(x - \beta_3) and swapping the order of the double product gives k=06P(ωk)=j=13k=06(ωkβj)=j=13((βj71))=j=13(1βj7). \begin{gathered} \prod_{k=0}^{6} P(\omega^k) \\ = \prod_{j=1}^{3} \prod_{k=0}^{6} (\omega^k - \beta_j) \\ = \prod_{j=1}^{3} \bigl(-(\beta_j^7 - 1)\bigr) \\ = \prod_{j=1}^{3} (1 - \beta_j^7). \end{gathered}

For a root β\beta of P,P, repeatedly using β3=β1\beta^3 = -\beta - 1 gives β4=β2β,\beta^4 = -\beta^2 - \beta, β5=β2+β+1,\beta^5 = -\beta^2 + \beta + 1, β6=β2+2β+1,\beta^6 = \beta^2 + 2\beta + 1, and β7=2β21.\beta^7 = 2\beta^2 - 1. Hence 1β7=2(1β)(1+β),1 - \beta^7 = 2(1 - \beta)(1 + \beta), and j(1βj7)=23j(1βj)j(1+βj)=8P(1)(P(1))=831=24. \begin{gathered} \prod_{j} (1 - \beta_j^7) \\ = 2^3 \prod_j (1 - \beta_j) \prod_j (1 + \beta_j) \\ = 8 \cdot P(1) \cdot \bigl(-P(-1)\bigr) \\ = 8 \cdot 3 \cdot 1 = 24. \end{gathered}

So the requested product equals 24.24.

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