2002 AIME I Problem 12

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 12 of the 2002 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:complex numberrecursionpattern recognition

Difficulty rating: 2600

12.

Let F(z)=z+iziF(z) = \frac{z + i}{z - i} for all complex numbers zi,z \ne i, and let zn=F(zn1)z_n = F(z_{n-1}) for all positive integers n.n. Given that z0=1137+iz_0 = \frac{1}{137} + i and z2002=a+bi,z_{2002} = a + bi, where aa and bb are real numbers, find a+b.a + b.

Solution:

Composing the map with itself, F(F(z))=z+izi+iz+izii=(z+i)+i(zi)(z+i)i(zi)=(1+i)(z+1)(1i)(z1)=iz+1z1,F(F(z)) = \frac{\frac{z+i}{z-i} + i}{\frac{z+i}{z-i} - i} = \frac{(z + i) + i(z - i)}{(z + i) - i(z - i)} = \frac{(1 + i)(z + 1)}{(1 - i)(z - 1)} = i\,\frac{z + 1}{z - 1}, and applying FF once more gives F(F(F(z)))=iz+1z1+iiz+1z1i=(z+1)+(z1)(z+1)(z1)=z,F(F(F(z))) = \frac{i\,\frac{z+1}{z-1} + i}{i\,\frac{z+1}{z-1} - i} = \frac{(z + 1) + (z - 1)}{(z + 1) - (z - 1)} = z, so the sequence z0,z1,z2,z_0, z_1, z_2, \ldots is periodic with period 3.3.

Since 2002=3667+1,2002 = 3 \cdot 667 + 1, we have z2002=z1=F(z0)=z0+iz0i=1137+2i1137=1+274i.z_{2002} = z_1 = F(z_0) = \frac{z_0 + i}{z_0 - i} = \frac{\frac{1}{137} + 2i}{\frac{1}{137}} = 1 + 274i. Thus a+b=1+274=275.a + b = 1 + 274 = 275.

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