2000 AIME I Problem 9

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Concepts:logarithmsystem of equationssubstitutionfactoring

Difficulty rating: 2560

9.

The system of equations log10(2000xy)(log10x)(log10y)=4\log_{10}(2000xy) - (\log_{10} x)(\log_{10} y) = 4 log10(2yz)(log10y)(log10z)=1\log_{10}(2yz) - (\log_{10} y)(\log_{10} z) = 1 log10(zx)(log10z)(log10x)=0\log_{10}(zx) - (\log_{10} z)(\log_{10} x) = 0 has two solutions (x1,y1,z1)(x_1, y_1, z_1) and (x2,y2,z2).(x_2, y_2, z_2). Find y1+y2.y_1 + y_2.

Solution:

Let a=log10x,a = \log_{10} x, b=log10y,b = \log_{10} y, c=log10z.c = \log_{10} z. Using log102000=4log105,\log_{10} 2000 = 4 - \log_{10} 5, the first equation becomes a+bab=log105,a + b - ab = \log_{10} 5, which factors as (1a)(1b)=1log105=log102.(1 - a)(1 - b) = 1 - \log_{10} 5 = \log_{10} 2. Similarly the second equation gives (1b)(1c)=1(1log102)=log102,(1 - b)(1 - c) = 1 - (1 - \log_{10} 2) = \log_{10} 2, and the third gives (1c)(1a)=1.(1 - c)(1 - a) = 1.

Dividing the first two (note 1b01 - b \ne 0) yields 1a=1c,1 - a = 1 - c, and then the third equation gives (1a)2=1,(1 - a)^2 = 1, so 1a=±1.1 - a = \pm 1. If 1a=1,1 - a = 1, then 1b=log102,1 - b = \log_{10} 2, so b=1log102=log105b = 1 - \log_{10} 2 = \log_{10} 5 and y=5y = 5 (indeed (x,y,z)=(1,5,1)(x, y, z) = (1, 5, 1) works). If 1a=1,1 - a = -1, then 1b=log102,1 - b = -\log_{10} 2, so b=log1020b = \log_{10} 20 and y=20y = 20 (from (x,y,z)=(100,20,100)(x, y, z) = (100, 20, 100)).

Therefore y1+y2=5+20=25.y_1 + y_2 = 5 + 20 = 25.

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