2024 AIME I Problems/Problem 7

Let such that . The expression becomes:

Call this complex number . We simplify this expression.

\begin{align*} w&=(75+117i)(a+bi)+\dfrac{96+144i}{a+bi} \\ &=(75a-117b)+(117a+75b)i+48\left(\dfrac{2+3i}{a+bi}\right) \\ &=(75a-117b)+(116a+75b)i+48\left(\dfrac{(2+3i)(a-bi)}{(a+bi)(a-bi)}\right) \\ &=(75a-117b)+(116a+75b)i+48\left(\dfrac{2a+3b+(3a-2b)i}{a^2+b^2}\right) \\ &=(75a-117b)+(116a+75b)i+48\left(\dfrac{2a+3b+(3a-2b)i}{16}\right) \\ &=(75a-117b)+(116a+75b)i+3\left(2a+3b+(3a-2b)i\right) \\ &=(75a-117b)+(116a+75b)i+6a+9b+(9a-6b)i \\ &=(81a-108b)+(125a+69b)i. \\ \end{align*}

We want to maximize . We can use elementary calculus for this, but to do so, we must put the expression in terms of one variable. Recall that ; thus, . Notice that we have a in the expression; to maximize the expression, we want to be negative so that is positive and thus contributes more to the expression. We thus let . Let . We now know that , and can proceed with normal calculus.

\begin{align*} f(a)&=81a+108\sqrt{16-a^2} \\ &=27\left(3a+4\sqrt{16-a^2}\right) \\ f'(a)&=27\left(3a+4\sqrt{16-a^2}\right)' \\ &=27\left(3+4\left(\sqrt{16-a^2}\right)'\right) \\ &=27\left(3+4\left(\dfrac{-2a}{2\sqrt{16-a^2}}\right)\right) \\ &=27\left(3-4\left(\dfrac a{\sqrt{16-a^2}}\right)\right) \\ &=27\left(3-\dfrac{4a}{\sqrt{16-a^2}}\right). \\ \end{align*}

We want to be to find the maximum.

\begin{align*} 0&=27\left(3-\dfrac{4a}{\sqrt{16-a^2}}\right) \\ &=3-\dfrac{4a}{\sqrt{16-a^2}} \\ 3&=\dfrac{4a}{\sqrt{16-a^2}} \\ 4a&=3\sqrt{16-a^2} \\ 16a^2&=9\left(16-a^2\right) \\ 16a^2&=144-9a^2 \\ 25a^2&=144 \\ a^2&=\dfrac{144}{25} \\ a&=\dfrac{12}5 \\ &=2.4. \\ \end{align*}

We also find that .

Thus, the expression we wanted to maximize becomes .

~Technodoggo

See also

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.