1965 AMC 12 Problem 40

Attempt Problem 40 of the 1965 AMC 12 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 1965 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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40.

Let nn be the number of integer values of xx such that P=x4+6x3+11x2+3x+31P=x^4+6x^3+11x^2+3x+31 is the square of an integer. Then nn is:

44

33

22

11

00

Answer: D
Concepts:perfect squarepolynomialbounding to limit casessystematic listing
Difficulty rating: 2710
Small Hint:

Rewrite P=(x2+3x+1)23(x10)P=(x^2+3x+1)^2-3(x-10)

Big Hint:

Distinct integer squares U2U^2 and V2V^2 differ by at least 2max(U,V)12\max(|U|,|V|)-1

Solution:

Let N=x2+3x+1.N=x^2+3x+1. Then P=N23(x10).P=N^2-3(x-10). At x=10, P=N2=1312,x=10,\ P=N^2=131^2, so one value works.

If x>10x\gt10 and P=y2,P=y^2, then N2y2=3(x10).N^2-y^2=3(x-10). Distinct integer squares differing from N2N^2 differ by at least 2N1,2|N|-1, which is already greater than 3(x10),3(x-10), a contradiction. If x<10,x\lt10, the analogous bound 3(10x)=y2N22y1>2N1 \begin{gathered} 3(10-x)=y^2-N^2\\ \geq2|y|-1\gt2|N|-1 \end{gathered} can hold only for 6x2.-6\leq x\leq2. Direct substitution for these nine integers gives no square. Hence x=10x=10 is the unique solution and n=1.n=1.

Therefore, the correct answer is D.

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Problem 40 in Other Years

1950 AMC 12 · 1951 AMC 12 · 1952 AMC 12 · 1953 AMC 12 · 1954 AMC 12 · 1955 AMC 12 · 1956 AMC 12 · 1957 AMC 12 · 1958 AMC 12 · 1959 AMC 12 · 1960 AMC 12 · 1961 AMC 12 · 1962 AMC 12 · 1963 AMC 12 · 1964 AMC 12 · 1966 AMC 12 · 1967 AMC 12