2009 AIME I Problem 2

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 2 of the 2009 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:complex numberalgebraic manipulation

Difficulty rating: 2060

2.

There is a complex number zz with imaginary part 164164 and a positive integer nn such that zz+n=4i.\frac{z}{z + n} = 4i. Find n.n.

Solution:

Write z=a+164i.z = a + 164i. Clearing the denominator gives z=4i(z+n),z = 4i(z + n), that is, a+164i=4i(a+n+164i)=656+4(a+n)i.a + 164i = 4i\,(a + n + 164i) = -656 + 4(a + n)i.

Real parts give a=656,a = -656, and imaginary parts give 164=4(a+n),164 = 4(a + n), so a+n=41a + n = 41 and n=41+656=697.n = 41 + 656 = 697.

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