Art of Problem Solving

2023 WSMO Accuracy Round Problems/Problem 1: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "==Problem== Let <math>x = \sqrt{69+\sqrt{69+\sqrt{69\dots}}}.</math> Find the value of <math>(2x-1)^2.</math> ==Solution=="
 
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==Solution==
==Solution==
We have
<cmath>\begin{align*}
x &= \sqrt{69+x}\implies\\
x^2 &= 69+x\implies\\
x^2-x-69 &= 0\implies\\
x &= \frac{1\pm\sqrt{277}}{2}\implies\\
(2x-1)^2 &= \left(2\left(\frac{1\pm\sqrt{277}}{2}\right)-1\right)^2\\
&= \left(\pm\sqrt{277}\right)^2 = \boxed{277}.
\end{align*}</cmath>
~pinkpig

Latest revision as of 10:35, 13 September 2025

Problem

Let $x = \sqrt{69+\sqrt{69+\sqrt{69\dots}}}.$ Find the value of $(2x-1)^2.$

Solution

We have \begin{align*} x &= \sqrt{69+x}\implies\\ x^2 &= 69+x\implies\\ x^2-x-69 &= 0\implies\\ x &= \frac{1\pm\sqrt{277}}{2}\implies\\ (2x-1)^2 &= \left(2\left(\frac{1\pm\sqrt{277}}{2}\right)-1\right)^2\\ &= \left(\pm\sqrt{277}\right)^2 = \boxed{277}. \end{align*}

~pinkpig