2003 AIME II Problem 9

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 9 of the 2003 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:polynomialVieta’s Formulas

Difficulty rating: 2400

9.

Consider the polynomials P(x)=x6x5x3x2xP(x) = x^6 - x^5 - x^3 - x^2 - x and Q(x)=x4x3x21.Q(x) = x^4 - x^3 - x^2 - 1. Given that z1,z_1, z2,z_2, z3,z_3, and z4z_4 are the roots of Q(x)=0,Q(x) = 0, find P(z1)+P(z2)+P(z3)+P(z4).P(z_1) + P(z_2) + P(z_3) + P(z_4).

Solution:

Polynomial division gives P(x)=Q(x)(x2+1)+x2x+1,P(x) = Q(x)\,(x^2 + 1) + x^2 - x + 1, so P(zi)=zi2zi+1P(z_i) = z_i^2 - z_i + 1 for each root ziz_i of Q.Q.

By Vieta's formulas for Q(x)=x4x3x21,Q(x) = x^4 - x^3 - x^2 - 1, we have zi=1\sum z_i = 1 and i<jzizj=1,\sum_{i \lt j} z_i z_j = -1, so zi2=(zi)22i<jzizj=1+2=3.\sum z_i^2 = \left(\sum z_i\right)^2 - 2\sum_{i \lt j} z_i z_j = 1 + 2 = 3. Therefore i=14P(zi)=31+4=6.\sum_{i=1}^4 P(z_i) = 3 - 1 + 4 = 6.

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