Let f ( x ) = x − x 1 .
If ( a 1 , b 1 ) ⋯ ( a n , b n ) are the solutions to the system of equations
{ f ( a ) + f ( b ) = f ( a b ) a = f ( b )
then the value of i = 1 ∑ n ∣ a i ∣ + ∣ b i ∣ can be expressed as a + b + c for positive integers a , b , c .
Find a + b + c .
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A really nice solution. But I do think the problem's overrated.
What a fool I am. I could not wait for the problem to be rated......Geezzz
Isn't this problem over-rated( should be around level 3) @Calvin Lin , @Daniel Liu ?
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No idea why it's level 5. Perhaps a lot of people accidentally thought that ( a , b ) = ( 0 , 1 ) worked and got it wrong.
I hate myself if I am doing the hard way: I made the situation where I have to solve the polynomial equation: b^5 - 2b^4 - 2b^3 + 5b^2 - 2 = 0 and I have no idea how solve for the irrationals here so I cheated a little by consulting to Wolfram.... and I get the same... never even bothered to factorize the first equation, but instead I substituted directly a = f(b)... AAAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
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But... I wonder... Is there really a way to solve for irrationals without the use of any calculator? Please share.
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Oh... yeah... I can go have b^5 - 2b^4 - 2b^3 + 5b^2 - 2 = (b^2 + ab + c)(b^2 + db + e) and solve but anyways.. Ihope process is still right...
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f ( a ) + f ( b ) = f ( a b )
→ a + b − a 1 − b 1 = a b − a b 1
→ ( a b − 1 ) ( a − 1 ) ( b − 1 ) = 0 , − − − ( i ) a b = 0 since domain of f ( x ) excludes 0 .
a = f ( b )
→ a = b − b 1 − − − ( i i )
CASE I: a = 1 Using this in ( i i ) , we get b 2 − b − 1 = 0 .
So the solutions are ( 1 , 2 1 ± 5 ) .
CASE II: b = 1 Using this in ( i i ) we get a = 0 which is out of domain, so no solutions.
CASE III: a b = 1 Using this in ( i i ) we get b 2 = 2 → b = ± 2 . So the solutions are ( 2 1 , 2 ) , ( 2 − 1 , − 2 ) .
So required sum is ( 1 + 2 1 + 5 ) + ( 1 + 2 − 1 + 5 ) + ( 2 1 + 2 ) + ( 2 1 + 2 ) = 2 + 5 + 3 2 = 4 + 5 + 1 8 . So we have answer as 4 + 5 + 1 8 = 2 7 .