Question

Let $P(z)=z^8+(4\sqrt{3}+6)z^4$ $-(4\sqrt{3}+7).$ What is the minimum perimeter among all the $8$ -sided polygons in the complex plane whose vertices are precisely the zeros of $P(z)?$

$4\sqrt{3}+4$

$8\sqrt{2}$

$3\sqrt{2}+3\sqrt{6}$

$4\sqrt{2}+4\sqrt{3}$

$4\sqrt{3}+6$

Answer: B

Concepts:complex number roots of unity factoring

Difficulty rating: 2520

Solution:

Factoring in $z^4,$ $\begin{aligned} P(z) &=(z^4-1) \\ &\quad {}\cdot\big(z^4+(4\sqrt3+7)\big). \end{aligned}$ The first factor gives the roots $1,-1,i,-i.$ Since $4\sqrt3+7=(\sqrt3+2)^2$ and $2(\sqrt3+2)=(\sqrt3+1)^2,$ writing $w=\tfrac12(\sqrt3+1)$ the other four roots are $w(\pm1\pm i).$

The eight roots are symmetric about the origin with $4$ -fold symmetry, and every segment joining two of them has length at least $\sqrt2.$ Thus any such polygon has perimeter at least $8\sqrt2,$ and the polygon with vertices $1,$ $w(1+i),$ $i,$ $w(-1+i),$ $-1,$ $w(-1-i),$ $-i,$ $w(1-i)$ achieves it.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

2011 AMC 12B Problem 24

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 2520

Solution:

Problem 24 in Other Years