1989 AIME Problems/Problem 8

Problem

Assume that $x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_7$ are real numbers such that $\begin{align*} x_1 + 4x_2 + 9x_3 + 16x_4 + 25x_5 + 36x_6 + 49x_7 &= 1, \\ 4x_1 + 9x_2 + 16x_3 + 25x_4 + 36x_5 + 49x_6 + 64x_7 &= 12, \\ 9x_1 + 16x_2 + 25x_3 + 36x_4 + 49x_5 + 64x_6 + 81x_7 &= 123. \end{align*}$ Find the value of $16x_1+25x_2+36x_3+49x_4+64x_5+81x_6+100x_7$ .

Solution 1 (Quadratic Function)

Note that each equation is of the form $f(k)=k^2x_1+(k+1)^2x_2+(k+2)^2x_3+(k+3)^2x_4+(k+4)^2x_5+(k+5)^2x_6+(k+6)^2x_7,$ for some $k\in\{1,2,3\}.$

When we expand $f(k)$ and combine like terms, we obtain a quadratic function of $k:$ $f(k)=ak^2+bk+c,$ where $a,b,$ and $c$ are linear combinations of $x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4,x_5,x_6,$ and $x_7.$

We are given that $\begin{alignat*}{10} f(1)&=\phantom{42}a+b+c&&=1, \\ f(2)&=4a+2b+c&&=12, \\ f(3)&=9a+3b+c&&=123, \end{alignat*}$ and we wish to find $f(4).$

We eliminate $c$ by subtracting the first equation from the second, then subtracting the second equation from the third: $\begin{align*} 3a+b&=11, \\ 5a+b&=111. \end{align*}$ By either substitution or elimination, we get $a=50$ and $b=-139.$ Substituting these back produces $c=90.$

Finally, the answer is $f(4)=16a+4b+c=\boxed{334}.$

~Azjps (Fundamental Logic)

~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction)

Solution 2 (Linear Combination)

For simplicity purposes, we number the given equations $(1),(2),$ and $(3),$ in that order. Let $16x_1+25x_2+36x_3+49x_4+64x_5+81x_6+100x_7=S. \hspace{29.5mm}(4)$ Subtracting $(1)$ from $(2),$ subtracting $(2)$ from $(3),$ and subtracting $(3)$ from $(4),$ we obtain the following equations, respectively: $\begin{align*} 3x_1 + 5x_2 + 7x_3 + 9x_4 + 11x_5 + 13x_6 + 15x_7 &=11, \hspace{20mm}&(5) \\ 5x_1 + 7x_2 + 9x_3 + 11x_4 + 13x_5 + 15x_6 + 17x_7 &=111, &(6) \\ 7x_1 + 9x_2 + 11x_3 + 13x_4 + 15x_5 + 17x_6 + 19x_7 &=S-123. &(7) \\ \end{align*}$ Subtracting $(5)$ from $(6)$ and subtracting $(6)$ from $(7),$ we obtain the following equations, respectively: $\begin{align*} 2x_1+2x_2+2x_3+2x_4+2x_5+2x_6+2x_7&=100, &(8) \\ 2x_1+2x_2+2x_3+2x_4+2x_5+2x_6+2x_7&=S-234. \hspace{20mm}&(9) \end{align*}$ Finally, applying the Transitive Property to $(8)$ and $(9)$ gives $S-234=100,$ from which $S=\boxed{334}.$

~Duohead (Fundamental Logic)

~MRENTHUSIASM (Reconstruction)

Solution 3 (Generalized)

Notice that we may rewrite the equations in the more compact form as: $\begin{align*} \sum_{i=1}^{7}i^2x_i&=c_1, \\ \sum_{i=1}^{7}(i+1)^2x_i&=c_2, \\ \sum_{i=1}^{7}(i+2)^2x_i&=c_3, \\ \sum_{i=1}^{7}(i+3)^2x_i&=c_4, \end{align*}$ where $c_1=1, c_2=12, c_3=123,$ and $c_4$ is what we are trying to find.

Now consider the polynomial given by $f(z) = \sum_{i=1}^7 (z+i)^2x_i$ (we are only treating the $x_i$ as coefficients).

Notice that $f$ is in fact a quadratic. We are given $f(0), \ f(1), \ f(2)$ as $c_1, \ c_2, \ c_3$ and are asked to find $c_4$ . Using the concept of finite differences (a prototype of differentiation) we find that the second differences of consecutive values is constant, so that by arithmetic operations we find $c_4=334$ .

Alternatively, applying finite differences, one obtains $c_4 = {3 \choose 2}f(2) - {3 \choose 1}f(1) + {3 \choose 0}f(0) =\boxed{334}.$

Solution 4 (Very Cheap: Not Recommended)

We let $(x_4,x_5,x_6,x_7)=(0,0,0,0)$ . Thus, we have $\begin{cases} x_1+4x_2+9x_3=1\\ 4x_1+9x_2+16x_3=12\\ 9x_1+16x_2+25x_3=123\\ \end{cases}$ Grinding this out, we have $(x_1,x_2,x_3)=\left(\frac{797}{4},-229,\frac{319}{4}\right)$ which gives $\boxed{334}$ as our final answer.

-Pleaseletmewin

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mOROTEkvWI ~ MathEx

1989 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 7	Followed by Problem 9
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