2023 AIME II Problem 4

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Concepts:system of equationsfactoringsymmetry (algebra)

Difficulty rating: 2460

4.

Let x,x, y,y, and zz be real numbers satisfying the system of equations xy+4z=60,yz+4x=60,zx+4y=60.xy + 4z = 60, \qquad yz + 4x = 60, \qquad zx + 4y = 60.

Let SS be the set of possible values of x.x. Find the sum of the squares of the elements of S.S.

Solution:

Subtracting the second equation from the first gives xyyz+4z4x=0,xy - yz + 4z - 4x = 0, which factors as (y4)(xz)=0.(y - 4)(x - z) = 0. So y=4y = 4 or x=z.x = z.

If y=4:y = 4: the first equation becomes 4x+4z=60,4x + 4z = 60, so x+z=15,x + z = 15, and the second becomes 4z+4x=604z + 4x = 60 again while the third gives zx=44.zx = 44. Then xx and zz are roots of t215t+44=(t4)(t11),t^2 - 15t + 44 = (t - 4)(t - 11), so x{4,11}.x \in \{4, 11\}.

If x=z:x = z: the first equation reads x(y+4)=60,x(y + 4) = 60, so y=60x4,y = \frac{60}{x} - 4, and the third reads x2+4y=60.x^2 + 4y = 60. Substituting, x2+240x16=60x376x+240=0=(x4)(x6)(x+10),x^2 + \frac{240}{x} - 16 = 60 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad x^3 - 76x + 240 = 0 = (x - 4)(x - 6)(x + 10), so x{4,6,10},x \in \{4, 6, -10\}, each with real yy and z.z. Hence S={10,4,6,11}S = \{-10, 4, 6, 11\} and the sum of squares is 100+16+36+121=273.100 + 16 + 36 + 121 = 273.

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