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Difference between revisions of "1988 AIME Problems/Problem 11"
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Matching the real parts and the imaginary parts, we get that <math>\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 3</math> and <math>\sum_{k=1}^5 (mx_k + 3) = 504</math>. Simplifying the second summation, we find that <math>m\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 504 - 3 \cdot 5 = 489</math>, and substituting, the answer is <math>m \cdot 3 = 489 \Longrightarrow m = 163</math>.
 
Matching the real parts and the imaginary parts, we get that <math>\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 3</math> and <math>\sum_{k=1}^5 (mx_k + 3) = 504</math>. Simplifying the second summation, we find that <math>m\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 504 - 3 \cdot 5 = 489</math>, and substituting, the answer is <math>m \cdot 3 = 489 \Longrightarrow m = 163</math>.
 +
 +
 +
==Solution 2==
 +
We know that
 +
 +
<math>\sum_{k=1}^5 w_k = 3 + 504i</math>
 +
 +
And because the sum of the 5 <math>z</math>'s must cancel this out,
 +
 +
<math>\sum_{k=1}^5 z_k = 3 + 504i</math>
 +
 +
We write the numbers in the form <math>a + bi</math> and we know that
 +
 +
<math>\sum_{k=1}^5 a_k = 3</math> and <math>\sum_{k=1}^5 b_k = 504</math>
 +
 +
The line is of equation <math>y=mx+3</math>. Substituting in the polar coordinates, we have <math>b_k = ma_k + 3</math>.
 +
 +
Summing all 5 of the equations given for each <math>k</math>, we get
 +
 +
<math>504 =  3m + 15</math>
 +
 +
Solving for <math>m</math>, the slope, we get <math>\boxed{163}</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 18:45, 22 February 2014

Problem

Let $w_1, w_2, \dots, w_n$ be complex numbers. A line $L$ in the complex plane is called a mean line for the points $w_1, w_2, \dots, w_n$ if $L$ contains points (complex numbers) $z_1, z_2, \dots, z_n$ such that \[\sum_{k = 1}^n (z_k - w_k) = 0.\] For the numbers $w_1 = 32 + 170i$, $w_2 = - 7 + 64i$, $w_3 = - 9 + 200i$, $w_4 = 1 + 27i$, and $w_5 = - 14 + 43i$, there is a unique mean line with $y$-intercept 3. Find the slope of this mean line.

Solution

$\sum_{k=1}^5 z_k - \sum_{k=1}^5 w_k = 0$

$\sum_{k=1}^5 z_k = 3 + 504i$

Each $z_k = x_k + y_ki$ lies on the complex line $y = mx + 3$, so we can rewrite this as

$\sum_{k=1}^5 z_k = \sum_{k=1}^5 x_k + \sum_{k=1}^n y_ki$

$3 + 504i = \sum_{k=1}^5 x_k + i \sum_{k=1}^5 (mx_k + 3)$

Matching the real parts and the imaginary parts, we get that $\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 3$ and $\sum_{k=1}^5 (mx_k + 3) = 504$. Simplifying the second summation, we find that $m\sum_{k=1}^5 x_k = 504 - 3 \cdot 5 = 489$, and substituting, the answer is $m \cdot 3 = 489 \Longrightarrow m = 163$.


Solution 2

We know that

$\sum_{k=1}^5 w_k = 3 + 504i$

And because the sum of the 5 $z$'s must cancel this out,

$\sum_{k=1}^5 z_k = 3 + 504i$

We write the numbers in the form $a + bi$ and we know that

$\sum_{k=1}^5 a_k = 3$ and $\sum_{k=1}^5 b_k = 504$

The line is of equation $y=mx+3$. Substituting in the polar coordinates, we have $b_k = ma_k + 3$.

Summing all 5 of the equations given for each $k$, we get

$504 = 3m + 15$

Solving for $m$, the slope, we get $\boxed{163}$

See also

1988 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 10 		Followed by
Problem 12
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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