2025 AIME I Problem 9

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 9 of the 2025 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2025 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:parabolatransformationsymmetry

Difficulty rating: 2920

9.

The parabola with equation y=x24y = x^2 - 4 is rotated 6060^\circ counterclockwise around the origin. The unique point in the fourth quadrant where the original parabola and its image intersect has yy-coordinate abc,\frac{a - \sqrt{b}}{c}, where a,a, b,b, and cc are positive integers, and aa and cc are relatively prime. Find a+b+c.a + b + c.

Solution:

A point PP lies on the image parabola exactly when its rotation by 60,-60^\circ, namely Q=(x2+32y, 32x+y2),Q = \left(\frac{x}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}y,\ -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}x + \frac{y}{2}\right), lies on the original parabola. So we need PP and QQ both on y=x24.y = x^2 - 4. The parabola is symmetric in xx,x \mapsto -x, so we look for P=(x,y)P = (x, y) whose rotated image is the mirror point Q=(x,y).Q = (-x, y).

Matching yy-coordinates gives 32x+y2=y,-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}x + \frac{y}{2} = y, i.e. y=3x,y = -\sqrt{3}\,x, and then the xx-coordinate works automatically: x2+32(3x)=x.\frac{x}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(-\sqrt{3}x) = -x. Substituting y=3xy = -\sqrt{3}\,x into y=x24y = x^2 - 4 gives x2+3x4=0,x^2 + \sqrt{3}\,x - 4 = 0, whose positive root is x=3+192.x = \frac{-\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{19}}{2}. Then y=3x=3572<0,y = -\sqrt{3}\,x = \frac{3 - \sqrt{57}}{2} \lt 0, so this point is in the fourth quadrant, on both curves.

The problem guarantees the fourth-quadrant intersection is unique, so its yy-coordinate is 3572,\frac{3 - \sqrt{57}}{2}, giving a+b+c=3+57+2=62.a + b + c = 3 + 57 + 2 = 62.

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