2025 AIME II Problems/Problem 9

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Problem

There are $n$ values of $x$ in the interval $0<x<2\pi$ where $f(x)=\sin(7\pi\cdot\sin(5x))=0$. For $t$ of these $n$ values of $x$, the graph of $y=f(x)$ is tangent to the $x$-axis. Find $n+t$.

Solution 1

Taking the inverse on both sides yields $7\pi\cdot\sin(5x)=k\pi$ for $1\le k\le 7$. Dividing on both sides and isolating the sine yields $\sin(5x)=\frac{k}{7}$. For each $1\le k\le 6$, there will be 10 solutions, and there will be 5 solutions for $\sin(5x)=1$ in the given domain. Thus, $n=65$.

Basic calculus techniques would tell us that solving the equation $f’(x)=\cos(7\pi\cdot\sin(5x))\cdot35\pi\cos(5x)=0$ would give us the extrema. Solving the equation would give us either $\cos(5x)=0$ which gives $x=\frac{(2k+1)\pi}{10}$ for $0\le k\le 9$, which are also all roots. Solving the other equation would very quickly tell us that they are all not roots besides being extrema. This tells us that $t=10$.

Summing gives the final answer, $\boxed{075}$.

(Please make sure I did not make any mistakes, thanks. If it is verified then please remove this line.) (I think this solution is wrong, I got 149 not 75. See below -lisztepos)

Solution 2

For $\sin(7\pi\cdot\sin(5x))=0$ to happen, whatever is inside the function must be of form $k\pi$. We then equate to have \begin{align*} 7\pi\cdot\sin(5x)=k\pi \sin(5x)=\frac{k}{7} \end{align*} We know that $-1\le \sin{5x} \ge 1$, so clearly $k$ takes all values $-7\le k \ge 7$. Since the graph of $\sin{5x}$ has 5 periods between $0$ and $360$, each of the values $k=-6,-5,-4...-1,1,2...6$ give $10$ solutions each. $k=-7,7$ give $5$ solutions each and $k=0$ gives $9$ solutions (to verify this sketch a graph). Thus, $n=139$.\\ We know that the function is tangent to the x-axis if it retains the same sign on both sides of the function. This is not true for points at $k=-6,-5,-4...4,5,6$ because one side will be positive and one will be negative. However this will happen if $k=-7,7$ because the sine function 'bounces back' and goes over the same values again, and $t=10$ of these values exist.\\ Thus, $n+t=\boxed{149}$.

See also

2025 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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