2012 AMC 12B Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 of the 2012 AMC 12B 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 2012 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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23.

Consider all polynomials of a complex variable, P(z)=4z4+az3P(z) = 4z^4 + az^3 +bz2+cz+d,+ bz^2 + cz + d, where a,a, b,b, c,c, and dd are integers, 0dcba4,0 \le d \le c \le b \le a \le 4, and the polynomial has a zero z0z_0 with z0=1.|z_0| = 1. What is the sum of all values P(1)P(1) over all the polynomials with these properties?

8484

9292

100100

108108

120120

Answer: B
Concepts:roots of unitycomplex numbertriangle inequality
Difficulty rating: 2380
Small Hint:

Apply the triangle inequality to 4z05=(z01)P(z0)+4z05;4z_0^5=(z_0-1)P(z_0)+4z_0^5; equality forces the coefficient jumps to concentrate

Big Hint:

First handle the cases where z0k=1z_0^k=1 for some 1k4;1\le k\le4; otherwise equality in the triangle inequality permits only one nonzero coefficient jump

Solution:

Because z0=1,|z_0|=1, applying the triangle inequality to the identity 4z05(z01)P(z0)=z04(4a)+z03(ab)+z02(bc)+z0(cd)+d \begin{aligned} &4z_0^5-(z_0-1)P(z_0) \\ &\quad =z_0^4(4-a)+z_0^3(a-b) \\ &\quad {}+z_0^2(b-c)+z_0(c-d)+d \end{aligned} has left side of absolute value 4.4. The nonnegative coefficient jumps on the right sum to 4,4, so the triangle inequality is an equality and all its nonzero complex summands point in the same direction.

If two jumps are nonzero, their quotient shows that z0kz_0^k is a positive real for some 1k4.1\le k\le4. Since z0=1,|z_0|=1, this means z0k=1.z_0^k=1. The cases k=2,3,4k=2,3,4 give, respectively, a=4,b=c,d=0;a=4,b=c,d=0; a=b=4,c=d=0;a=b=4,c=d=0; and a polynomial already in the first family. If no such power exists, equality forces exactly one nonzero jump. The constant jump gives a=b=c=d=4;a=b=c=d=4; any other jump again forces z05j=1z_0^{5-j}=1 and returns to the cases just listed. Hence the polynomials are exactly 4z4+4z3+bz2+bz4z^4+4z^3+bz^2+bz for 0b4,0\le b\le4, together with 4z4+4z3+4z24z^4+4z^3+4z^2 and 4z4+4z3+4z2+4z+4.4z^4+4z^3+4z^2+4z+4.

Their values at 11 are 20,20, 12,12, and 8+2b;8+2b; summing gives 20+12+b=04(8+2b)=32+40+20=92. \begin{gathered} 20+12+\sum_{b=0}^{4}(8+2b) \\ = 32+40+20 \\ = 92. \end{gathered}

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 22#22
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