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Difference between revisions of "2021 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 21"

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Upon pure observation, it is obvious that one solution to this equality is <math>x=\sqrt{2}</math>. From this, we can deduce that this equality has two solutions, since <math>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math> grows faster than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> (for greater values of <math>x</math>) and <math>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math> is greater than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> for <math>x<\sqrt{2}</math> and less than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> for <math>\sqrt{2}<x<n</math>, where <math>n</math> is the second solution. Thus, the answer cannot be <math>\text{A}</math> or <math>\text{B}</math>. We then start plugging in numbers to roughly approximate the answer. When <math>x=2</math>, <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math>, thus the answer cannot be <math>\text{C}</math>. Then, when <math>x=4</math>, <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}=4^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}<64<\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}=256</math>. Therefore, <math>S<4+\sqrt{2}<6</math>, so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 2 \le S < 6}</math>. ~Baolan
 
Upon pure observation, it is obvious that one solution to this equality is <math>x=\sqrt{2}</math>. From this, we can deduce that this equality has two solutions, since <math>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math> grows faster than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> (for greater values of <math>x</math>) and <math>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math> is greater than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> for <math>x<\sqrt{2}</math> and less than <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}</math> for <math>\sqrt{2}<x<n</math>, where <math>n</math> is the second solution. Thus, the answer cannot be <math>\text{A}</math> or <math>\text{B}</math>. We then start plugging in numbers to roughly approximate the answer. When <math>x=2</math>, <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}</math>, thus the answer cannot be <math>\text{C}</math>. Then, when <math>x=4</math>, <math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}=4^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}<64<\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}=256</math>. Therefore, <math>S<4+\sqrt{2}<6</math>, so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 2 \le S < 6}</math>. ~Baolan
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== Solution 2 ==
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<math>x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}} = {\sqrt{2}}^{2^x}</math>
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<math>2^{\sqrt{2}} \log x = 2^{x} \log \sqrt{2}</math> (At this point we see by inspection that <math>x=\sqrt{2}</math> is a solution.)
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<math>\sqrt{2} \log 2 + \log \log x = x \log 2 + \log \log \sqrt{2}</math>
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<math>\sqrt{2} + \log_2 \log_2 x = x + \log_2 \log_2 \sqrt{2} = x -1.</math>
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<math>\log_2 \log_2 x = x - 1 - \sqrt{2}.</math>
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LHS is a line. RHS is a concave curve that looks like a logarithm and has <math>x</math> intercept at <math>(2,0).</math>
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There are at most two solutions, one of which is <math>\sqrt{2}.</math> But note that at <math>x=2,</math> we have <math>\log_2 \log_2 (2) = 0 > 2 - 1 - \sqrt{2},</math> meaning that the log log curve is above the line, so it must intersect the line again at a point <math>x > 2.</math> Now we check <math>x=4</math> and see that <math>\log_2 \log_2 (4) = 1 < 4 - 1 - \sqrt{2},</math> which means at <math>x=4</math> the line is already above the log log curve. Thus, the second solution lies in the interval <math>(2,4).</math>
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The answer is <math>\boxed{2 \leq S < 6}.</math>
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~ ccx09
  
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Logarithmic Tricks) ==
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Logarithmic Tricks) ==

Revision as of 15:10, 13 February 2021

Problem

Let $S$ be the sum of all positive real numbers $x$ for which\[x^{2^{\sqrt2}}=\sqrt2^{2^x}.\]Which of the following statements is true?

$\textbf{(A) }S<\sqrt2 \qquad \textbf{(B) }S=\sqrt2 \qquad \textbf{(C) }\sqrt2<S<2\qquad \textbf{(D) }2\le S<6 \qquad \textbf{(E) }S\ge 6$


Video Solution by hippopotamus1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjO6C_qC13U&feature=youtu.be

Solution (Rough Approximation)

Note that this solution is not recommended unless you're running out of time.

Upon pure observation, it is obvious that one solution to this equality is $x=\sqrt{2}$. From this, we can deduce that this equality has two solutions, since $\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}$ grows faster than $x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}$ (for greater values of $x$) and $\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}$ is greater than $x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}$ for $x<\sqrt{2}$ and less than $x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}$ for $\sqrt{2}<x<n$, where $n$ is the second solution. Thus, the answer cannot be $\text{A}$ or $\text{B}$. We then start plugging in numbers to roughly approximate the answer. When $x=2$, $x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}>\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}$, thus the answer cannot be $\text{C}$. Then, when $x=4$, $x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}=4^{2^{\sqrt{2}}}<64<\sqrt{2}^{2^{x}}=256$. Therefore, $S<4+\sqrt{2}<6$, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) } 2 \le S < 6}$. ~Baolan

Solution 2

$x^{2^{\sqrt{2}}} = {\sqrt{2}}^{2^x}$ $2^{\sqrt{2}} \log x = 2^{x} \log \sqrt{2}$ (At this point we see by inspection that $x=\sqrt{2}$ is a solution.) $\sqrt{2} \log 2 + \log \log x = x \log 2 + \log \log \sqrt{2}$ $\sqrt{2} + \log_2 \log_2 x = x + \log_2 \log_2 \sqrt{2} = x -1.$ $\log_2 \log_2 x = x - 1 - \sqrt{2}.$

LHS is a line. RHS is a concave curve that looks like a logarithm and has $x$ intercept at $(2,0).$ There are at most two solutions, one of which is $\sqrt{2}.$ But note that at $x=2,$ we have $\log_2 \log_2 (2) = 0 > 2 - 1 - \sqrt{2},$ meaning that the log log curve is above the line, so it must intersect the line again at a point $x > 2.$ Now we check $x=4$ and see that $\log_2 \log_2 (4) = 1 < 4 - 1 - \sqrt{2},$ which means at $x=4$ the line is already above the log log curve. Thus, the second solution lies in the interval $(2,4).$ The answer is $\boxed{2 \leq S < 6}.$

~ ccx09

Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Logarithmic Tricks)

https://youtu.be/uCTpLB-kGR4

~ pi_is_3.14


See Also

2021 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 20 		Followed by
Problem 22
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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