2019 AMC 12B Problem 21

Attempt Problem 21 of the 2019 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 2019 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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21.

How many quadratic polynomials with real coefficients are there such that the set of roots equals the set of coefficients? (For clarification: If the polynomial is ax2+bx+c, a0,ax^2+bx+c,\ a\neq0, and the roots are rr and s,s, then the requirement is that {a,b,c}={r,s}.\{a,b,c\}=\{r,s\}.)

33

44

55

66

infinitely many

Answer: B
Concepts:Vieta’s Formulascaseworksystem of equations
Difficulty rating: 2220
Solution:

If all three coefficients had one value u,u, the polynomial would be u(x2+x+1),u(x^2+x+1), whose roots do not equal u.u. Thus the coefficient and root sets both have two distinct values, so exactly two coefficients coincide. By Vieta's formulas, r+s=bar+s=-\dfrac{b}{a} and rs=ca.rs=\dfrac{c}{a}.

First suppose a=b=ua=b=u and c=v.c=v. The roots are u,v,u,v, so Vieta gives u+v=1u+v=-1 and uv=v/u.uv=v/u. Hence v(u21)=0,v(u^2-1)=0, producing x2+x2x^2+x-2 and x2x.-x^2-x.

If b=c=vb=c=v and a=u,a=u, the same product equation gives v(u21)=0,v(u^2-1)=0, while the sum equation leaves only u=1, v=12.u=1,\ v=-\tfrac12. This gives x212x12.x^2-\tfrac12x-\tfrac12.

Finally, if a=c=ua=c=u and b=v,b=v, the product equation gives uv=1,uv=1, so v=1/u.v=1/u. The sum equation becomes u3+u+1=0.u^3+u+1=0. This strictly increasing cubic has one real root u,u, producing exactly one more polynomial, ux2+1ux+u.ux^2+\dfrac1u x+u. Therefore there are 44 polynomials.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

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