2019 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 24: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:58, 12 October 2025

Problem

Let $p$ , $q$ , and $r$ be the distinct roots of the polynomial $x^3 - 22x^2 + 80x - 67$ . It is given that there exist real numbers $A$ , $B$ , and $C$ such that $\dfrac{1}{s^3 - 22s^2 + 80s - 67} = \dfrac{A}{s-p} + \dfrac{B}{s-q} + \frac{C}{s-r}$ for all $s\not\in\{p,q,r\}$ . What is $\tfrac1A+\tfrac1B+\tfrac1C$ ?

$\textbf{(A) }243\qquad\textbf{(B) }244\qquad\textbf{(C) }245\qquad\textbf{(D) }246\qquad\textbf{(E) } 247$

Solution 1

Multiplying both sides by $(s-p)(s-q)(s-r)$ yields $1 = A(s-q)(s-r) + B(s-p)(s-r) + C(s-p)(s-q)$ As this is a polynomial identity, and it is true for infinitely many $s$ , it must be true for all $s$ (since a polynomial with infinitely many roots must in fact be the constant polynomial $0$ ). This means we can plug in $s = p$ to find that $\frac1A = (p-q)(p-r)$ . Similarly, we can find $\frac1B = (q-p)(q-r)$ and $\frac1C = (r-p)(r-q)$ . Summing them up, we get that $\frac1A + \frac1B + \frac1C = p^2 + q^2 + r^2 - pq - qr - pr$ We can express $p^2 + q^2 + r^2 = (p+q+r)^2 - 2(pq + qr + pr)$ , and by Vieta's Formulas, we know that this expression is equal to $484$ . Vieta's also gives $pq + qr + pr = 80$ (which we also used to find $p^2+q^2+r^2$ ), so the answer is $484 -240 = \boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}$ .

Note: this process of substituting in the 'forbidden' values in the original identity is a standard technique for partial fraction decomposition, as taught in calculus classes.

-very small latex edit from countmath1 :)

Minor rephrasing for correctness and clarity ~ Technodoggo

Solution 2 (Pure Elementary Algebra)

Solution 1 uses a trick from Calculus that seemingly contradicts the restriction $s\not\in\{p,q,r\}$ . Here is a solution with pure elementary algebra. $A(s-q)(s-r) + B(s-p)(s-r) + C(s-p)(s-q)=1$ $s^2(A+B+C)-s(Aq+Ar+Bp+Br+Cp+Cq)+(Aqr+Bpr+Cpq-1)=0$ $\begin{cases} A+B+C=0 & (1)\\ Aq+Ar+Bp+Br+Cp+Cq=0 & (2)\\ Aqr+Bpr+Cpq=1 & (3) \end{cases}$ From $(1)$ we get $A=-(B+C)$ , $B=-(A+C)$ , $C=-(A+B)$ , substituting them in $(2)$ , we get $Ap + Bq + Cr=0$ $(4)$

$(4)- (1) \cdot r$ , $A(p-r)+B(q-r)=0$ $(5)$

$(3) - (1) \cdot pq$ , $Aq(r-p)+Bp(r-q)=1$ $(6)$

$(6) + (5) \cdot p$ , $A(r-p)(q-p)=1$

$A = \frac{1}{(r-p)(q-p)}$ , by symmetry, $B = \frac{1}{(r-q)(p-q)}$ , $C = \frac{1}{(q-r)(p-r)}$

The rest is similar to solution 1, we get $\boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}$

~Mathman645: Honestly. this solution isn't even that hard to understand, but the way you factored the initial expression is kinda weird and misleading.

~isabelchen

Video Solution by Richard Rusczyk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI5d2ZN8gXY

Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath

https://youtu.be/zw5CCPcT5IU

~IceMatrix

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Solution 1==
-Multiplying both sides by <math>(s-p)(s-q)(s-r)</math> on both sides yields
+Multiplying both sides by <math>(s-p)(s-q)(s-r)</math> yields
 <cmath>1 = A(s-q)(s-r) + B(s-p)(s-r) + C(s-p)(s-q)</cmath>
-As this is a polynomial and is true for infinitely many <math>s</math>, it must be true for all <math>s</math>.  This means we can plug in <math>s = p</math> to find that <math>\frac1A = (p-q)(p-r)</math>.  Similarly, we can find <math>\frac1B = (q-p)(q-r)</math> and <math>\frac1C = (r-p)(r-q)</math>.  Summing them up, we get that <cmath>\frac1A + \frac1B + \frac1C = p^2 + q^2 + r^2 - pq - qr - pr</cmath>
+As this is a polynomial identity, and it is true for infinitely many <math>s</math>, it must be true for all <math>s</math> (since a polynomial with infinitely many roots must in fact be the constant polynomial <math>0</math>). This means we can plug in <math>s = p</math> to find that <math>\frac1A = (p-q)(p-r)</math>.  Similarly, we can find <math>\frac1B = (q-p)(q-r)</math> and <math>\frac1C = (r-p)(r-q)</math>.  Summing them up, we get that <cmath>\frac1A + \frac1B + \frac1C = p^2 + q^2 + r^2 - pq - qr - pr</cmath>
-By Vieta's formulas, we know that <math>p^2 + q^2 + r^2 = (p+q+r)^2 - 2(pq + qr + pr) = 324</math> and <math>pq + qr + pr = 80</math>.  So the answer is <math>324 -80 = \boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}</math>.
+We can express <math>p^2 + q^2 + r^2 = (p+q+r)^2 - 2(pq + qr + pr)</math>, and by Vieta's Formulas, we know that this expression is equal to <math>484</math>. Vieta's also gives <math>pq + qr + pr = 80</math> (which we also used to find <math>p^2+q^2+r^2</math>), so the answer is <math>484 -240 = \boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}</math>.
-==Solution 2 (similar)==
+''Note'': this process of substituting in the 'forbidden' values in the original identity is a standard technique for partial fraction decomposition, as taught in calculus classes.
-Multiplying by <math>(s-p)</math> on both sides we find that
-<cmath>\frac{s-p}{s^3 - 22s^2 + 80s - 67} = A + \frac{B(s-p)}{s-q} + \frac{C(s-p)}{s-r}</cmath>
+-very small latex edit from countmath1 :)
-As <math>s\to p</math>, notice that the <math>B</math> and <math>C</math> terms on the right will cancel out and we will be left with only <math>A</math>.  So, <math>A = \lim_{s \to p} \frac{s-p}{s^3 - 22s^2 + 80s - 67}</math>, which by L'Hospital's rule is equal to <math>\lim_{s \to p}\frac{1}{3s^2 - 44s + 80} = \frac{1}{3p^2 - 44p + 80}</math>.  We can do similarly for <math>B</math> and <math>C</math>.  Adding up the reciprocals and using Vieta's formulas, we have that
-<cmath>\frac1A + \frac1B + \frac1C = 3(p^2 + q^2 + r^2) - 44(p + q + r) + 240 = 3(22^2 - 2(80)) - 44(22) + 240 = \boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}</cmath>
+Minor rephrasing for correctness and clarity ~ Technodoggo
+==Solution 2 (Pure Elementary Algebra)==
+Solution 1 uses a trick from Calculus that seemingly contradicts the restriction <math>s\not\in\{p,q,r\}</math>. Here is a solution with pure elementary algebra.
+<cmath>A(s-q)(s-r) + B(s-p)(s-r) + C(s-p)(s-q)=1</cmath>
+<cmath>s^2(A+B+C)-s(Aq+Ar+Bp+Br+Cp+Cq)+(Aqr+Bpr+Cpq-1)=0</cmath>
+<cmath>\begin{cases}
+A+B+C=0 & (1)\\
+Aq+Ar+Bp+Br+Cp+Cq=0 & (2)\\
+Aqr+Bpr+Cpq=1 & (3)
+\end{cases}</cmath>
+From <math>(1)</math> we get <math>A=-(B+C)</math>, <math>B=-(A+C)</math>, <math>C=-(A+B)</math>, substituting them in <math>(2)</math>, we get <math>Ap + Bq + Cr=0</math>  <math>(4)</math>
+<math>(4)- (1) \cdot r</math>, <math>A(p-r)+B(q-r)=0</math>  <math>(5)</math>
+<math>(3) - (1) \cdot pq</math>, <math>Aq(r-p)+Bp(r-q)=1</math>  <math>(6)</math>
+<math>(6) + (5) \cdot p</math>, <math>A(r-p)(q-p)=1</math>
+<math>A = \frac{1}{(r-p)(q-p)}</math>, by symmetry, <math>B = \frac{1}{(r-q)(p-q)}</math>, <math>C = \frac{1}{(q-r)(p-r)}</math>
+The rest is similar to solution 1, we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) } 244}</math>
+~Mathman645: Honestly. this solution isn't even that hard to understand, but the way you factored the initial expression is kinda weird and misleading.
+~[https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/User:Isabelchen isabelchen]
+==Video Solution by Richard Rusczyk==
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI5d2ZN8gXY
+==Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath==
+https://youtu.be/zw5CCPcT5IU
+~IceMatrix
 ==See Also==
+[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]
 {{AMC10 box|year=2019|ab=A|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 {{MAA Notice}}

2019 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 23	Followed by Problem 25
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