1990 AIME Problems/Problem 15

Problem

Find $a_{}^{}x^5 + b_{}y^5$ if the real numbers $a_{}^{}$ , $b_{}^{}$ , $x_{}^{}$ , and $y_{}^{}$ satisfy the equations $ax + by = 3^{}_{},$ $ax^2 + by^2 = 7^{}_{},$ $ax^3 + by^3 = 16^{}_{},$ $ax^4 + by^4 = 42^{}_{}.$

Solution

$(ax^2+by^2)(x+y)=7(x+y)=ax^3+by^3+(ax+by)xy=16+3xy$

$(ax^3+by^3)(x+y)=16(x+y)=ax^4+by^4+(ax^2+by^2)xy=42+7xy$

x+y=a

xy=b

$3b=7a-16$

$7b=16a-42$

$21b=49a-112$

$21b=48a-126$

$49a-112=48a-126$

$a=-126+112=-14$

$3b=-98-16=-114 \Rightarrow b=-38$

$(ax^4+by^4)(x+y)=42a=ax^5+by^5+(ax^3+by^3)xy=ax^5+by^5+16b$

$42a-16b=ax^5+by^5$

$-14*42+38*16=\boxed{050}$

1990 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 14	Followed by Last question
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1990 AIME Problems/Problem 15

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