Functional System of Equation

Algebra Level 5

Let f ( x ) = x 1 x f(x)=x-\dfrac{1}{x} .

If ( a 1 , b 1 ) ( a n , b n ) (a_1,b_1)\cdots (a_n,b_n) are the solutions to the system of equations

{ f ( a ) + f ( b ) = f ( a b ) a = f ( b ) \left\{\begin{array}{l}f(a)+f(b)=f(ab)\\ a=f(b)\end{array}\right.

then the value of i = 1 n a i + b i \sum_{i=1}^n|a_i|+|b_i| can be expressed as a + b + c \sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}+\sqrt{c} for positive integers a , b , c a,b,c .

Find a + b + c a+b+c .


The answer is 27.

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1 solution

Nishant Sharma
Jul 1, 2014

f ( a ) + f ( b ) = f ( a b ) f(a)+f(b)=f(ab)

a + b 1 a 1 b = a b 1 a b \displaystyle\rightarrow\,a+b-\frac{1}{a}-\frac{1}{b}=ab-\frac{1}{ab}

( a b 1 ) ( a 1 ) ( b 1 ) = 0 , ( i ) \rightarrow\,(ab-1)(a-1)(b-1)=0,---(i) a b 0 ab\neq0 since domain of f ( x ) f(x) excludes 0 {0} .

a = f ( b ) a=f(b)

a = b 1 b ( i i ) \displaystyle\rightarrow\,a=b-\frac{1}{b}---(ii)

CASE I: a = 1 a=1 Using this in ( i i ) (ii) , we get b 2 b 1 = 0 b^2-b-1=0 .

So the solutions are ( 1 , 1 ± 5 2 ) \displaystyle\left(1,\frac{1\pm\sqrt5}{2}\right) .

CASE II: b = 1 b=1 Using this in ( i i ) (ii) we get a = 0 a=0 which is out of domain, so no solutions.

CASE III: a b = 1 ab=1 Using this in ( i i ) (ii) we get b 2 = 2 b = ± 2 b^2=2\rightarrow\,b=\pm\sqrt2 . So the solutions are ( 1 2 , 2 ) , ( 1 2 , 2 ) \displaystyle\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt2},\sqrt2\right),\left(\frac{-1}{\sqrt2},-\sqrt2\right) .

So required sum is ( 1 + 1 + 5 2 ) + ( 1 + 1 + 5 2 ) + ( 1 2 + 2 ) + ( 1 2 + 2 ) = 2 + 5 + 3 2 = 4 + 5 + 18 \displaystyle\left(1+\frac{1+\sqrt5}{2}\right)+\left(1+\frac{-1+\sqrt5}{2}\right)+\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt2}+\sqrt2\right)+\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt2}+\sqrt2\right)=2+\sqrt5+3\sqrt2=\sqrt4+\sqrt5+\sqrt{18} . So we have answer as 4 + 5 + 18 = 27 4+5+18=\boxed{27} .

A really nice solution. But I do think the problem's overrated.

John M. - 6 years, 11 months ago

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 ?

Nishant Sharma - 6 years, 11 months ago

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No idea why it's level 5. Perhaps a lot of people accidentally thought that ( a , b ) = ( 0 , 1 ) (a,b)=(0,1) worked and got it wrong.

Daniel Liu - 6 years, 11 months ago

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!!!!!!

John Ashley Capellan - 6 years, 10 months ago

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But... I wonder... Is there really a way to solve for irrationals without the use of any calculator? Please share.

John Ashley Capellan - 6 years, 10 months ago

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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...

John Ashley Capellan - 6 years, 10 months ago

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