Amazing Circle.

Geometry Level 3

Find the sum of possible positive values of b. [ Both the roots of f(x,0) are equal and have value 2 ]


The answer is 4.5.

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1 solution

Tom Engelsman
Jul 21, 2019

If f ( x , 0 ) = 0 f(x,0) = 0 has both roots equal to x = 2 x = 2 , then x 2 + 2 a x + c = ( x 2 ) 2 = x 2 4 x + 4 = 0 a = 2 , c = 4. x^2 + 2ax + c = (x-2)^2 = x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0 \Rightarrow a = -2, c = 4. If f ( 0 , y ) = 0 f(0,y) = 0 has only integral roots, then y 2 + 2 b y + 4 = 0 , y^2 + 2by + 4 = 0, or:

y = 2 b ± 4 b 2 16 2 = b ± b 2 4 y = \frac{-2b \pm \sqrt{4b^2 - 16}}{2} = -b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4} (i).

We require the discriminant in (i) to be a perfect square if y Z . y \in \mathbb{Z}. Thus, b 2 4 = N 2 b 2 N 2 = ( b + N ) ( b N ) = 4. b^2 - 4 = N^2 \Rightarrow b^2 - N^2 = (b+N)(b-N) = 4. The positive divisors of 4 are just 1, 2, or 4, which testing in each factor gives:

b + N = 2 , b N = 2 b = 2 b+N = 2, b-N = 2 \Rightarrow b = 2 (ii)

b + N = 4 , b N = 1 b = 5 2 b+N = 4, b-N = 1 \Rightarrow b = \frac{5}{2} (iii).

Substituting (ii) and (iii) back into (i) yields:

b = 2 y = 2 ± 4 4 = 2 b = 2 \Rightarrow y = -2 \pm \sqrt{4 - 4} = -2

b = 5 2 y = 5 2 ± 25 4 4 = 5 2 ± 3 2 = 1 , 4 b = \frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow y = -\frac{5}{2} \pm \sqrt{\frac{25}{4} - 4} = -\frac{5}{2} \pm \frac{3}{2} = -1, -4 .

So the sum of all positive b b equals 2 + 5 2 = 4.5 . 2 + \frac{5}{2} = \boxed{4.5}.

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