Difference between revisions of "2000 AMC 12 Problems/Problem 15"
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| − | Let <math>y = \frac{x}{3}</math>; then <math>f(y) = (3y)^2 + 3y + 1 = 9y^2 + 3y+1</math>. Thus <math>f(3z)-7=81z^2+9z-6=3(9z-2)(3z+1)=0</math>, and <math>z = -\frac{1}{3}, \frac{2}{9}</math>. These sum up to <math>\boxed{-\frac{1}{9}\ \mathrm{(B)}}</math>. (We can also use Vieta's formulas to find the sum more quickly.) | + | Let <math>y = \frac{x}{3}</math>; then <math>f(y) = (3y)^2 + 3y + 1 = 9y^2 + 3y+1</math>. Thus <math>f(3z)-7=81z^2+9z-6=3(9z-2)(3z+1)=0</math>, and <math>z = -\frac{1}{3}, \frac{2}{9}</math>. These sum up to <math>\boxed{-\frac{1}{9}\ \mathrm{(B)}}</math>. (We can also use [[Vieta's formulas]] to find the sum more quickly.) |
'''Alternative solution:''' Set <math>f(\frac{x}{3}) = x^2+x+1=7</math> to get <math>x^2+x-6=0.</math> From either finding the roots or using Vieta's formulas, we find the sum of these roots to be <math>-1.</math> Each root of this equation is <math>9</math> times greater than a corresponding root of <math>f(3z) = 7</math> (because <math>\frac{x}{3} = 3z</math> gives <math>x = 9z</math>), thus the sum of the roots in the equation <math>f(3z)=7</math> is <math>-\frac{1}{9}.</math> | '''Alternative solution:''' Set <math>f(\frac{x}{3}) = x^2+x+1=7</math> to get <math>x^2+x-6=0.</math> From either finding the roots or using Vieta's formulas, we find the sum of these roots to be <math>-1.</math> Each root of this equation is <math>9</math> times greater than a corresponding root of <math>f(3z) = 7</math> (because <math>\frac{x}{3} = 3z</math> gives <math>x = 9z</math>), thus the sum of the roots in the equation <math>f(3z)=7</math> is <math>-\frac{1}{9}.</math> | ||
Revision as of 05:46, 5 January 2014
- The following problem is from both the 2000 AMC 12 #15 and 2000 AMC 10 #24, so both problems redirect to this page.
Problem
Let 
be a function for which 
. Find the sum of all values of 
for which 
.
Solution
Let 
; then 
. Thus 
, and 
. These sum up to 
. (We can also use Vieta's formulas to find the sum more quickly.)
Alternative solution: Set 
to get 
From either finding the roots or using Vieta's formulas, we find the sum of these roots to be 
Each root of this equation is 
times greater than a corresponding root of (because 
gives 
), thus the sum of the roots in the equation 
is 
See also
| 2000 AMC 12 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
| Preceded by Problem 14 |
Followed by Problem 16 |
| 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 | |
| 2000 AMC 10 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 23 |
Followed by Problem 25 | |
| 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 10 Problems and Solutions | ||
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. 
