Intermediate Algebra Problem Solving

ThugzMath∗
February 15, 2011

Algebra, for a long time, is considered one of the most invincible foundation
of mathematics. From our early mathematicians, we learned their theorems and
proofs, causing the subject more rigid. However, when the mathematical com-
petitions came out, not so long ago, our expectations became higher. As the
difficulty of the problems of these math competitions rises, our comprehesion in
problem-solving becomes wider, making the techniques more applicable to use.

In this article, we will discuss some techniques to solve some algebra prob-
lems from different math competitions. We will tackle the topics that we use to
handle them.

Here are the examples.

1 Examples
1)[iTest 2008 TOC] Find the maximum value of x + y if x and y are positive
real numbers such that
x3 + y 3 + (x + y)3 + 36xy = 3456
.
Solution: We make the substitutions a = x + y and b = xy. Then the original
equation can be rewritten as
a3 − 3ab + a3 + 36b = 3456
2a3 − 3ab + 36b − 3456 = 0 (1)
3 3 3
This reduction comes from the identity (x+y) −3xy(x+y) = x +y . Factoring
(1) we have
2a3 − 3456 − (3ab − 36b) = 2(a3 − 1728) − 3b(a − 12) = 0
2(a − 12)(a2 + 12a + 144) − 3b(a − 12) = 0
(a − 12)(2a2 + 24a + 288 − 3b) = 0 (2)
∗ Russelle Guadalupe (ThugzMath) is a third year student from Valenzuela City Science

High School, and a finalist in the 13th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad.

1
Clearly from (2), we have a = x + y = 12 and 2a2 + 24a + 288 − 3b = 0. The
latter equation can be changed into

2(x + y)2 + 24(x + y) + 288 − 3xy = 0

2x2 + 4xy + 2y 2 + 24x + 24y + 288 − 3xy = 0
2x2 + xy + 2y 2 + 24x + 24y + 288 = 0
2x2 + x(y + 24) + 2y 2 + 24y + 288 = 0 (3)

For x and y to be positive real numbers, the discriminant of (3) must be non-
negative:

(y + 24)2 − 4(2)(2y 2 + 24y + 288) ≥ 0

15y 2 + 144y + 1728 ≤ 0 → 5y 2 + 48y + 576 ≤ 0

Notice that the resulting inequality has no solution, since its discriminant is
482 − 4(5)(576) < 0. Thus the (maximum) value of x + y is 12.

2)[NYCIML1 1975] Find all ordered pairs (a, b) of real numbers such that
1
a + bi = x +
x
1
x3 + = 110
x3
√
where i = −1.

Solution: Knowing that

 3  
1 3 1 1
x+ =x + 3 +3 x+ ,
x x x

from the given system of equations, we have

(a + bi)3 = 110 + 3(a + bi) (4)

Collecting terms in (4) gives

a3 + 3a2 bi + 3ab2 i2 + b3 i3 − 3a − 3bi = 110

a3 + 3a2 bi − 3ab2 − b3 i − 3a − 3bi = 110
a3 − 3ab2 − 3a + (3a2 b − b3 − 3b)i = 110 (5)

From (5), it follows that a3 − 3ab2 − 3a = 110 and 3a2 b − b3 − 3b = 0. The latter
equation can be factored as b(3a2 − b2 − 3) = 0. Thus, we need to consider two
cases.
1 New York City Interscholastic Math League

2
 1. Case (1): b = 0
If b = 0, then we have a3 − 3a = 110 or a3 − 3a − 110 = 0. By Rational
Roots Theorem, 5 is the root of this cubic equation, so factoring we get
(a − 5)(a2 + 5a + 22) = 0. Note that a2 + 5a + 22 = 0 is irreducible, since
its discriminant is −63 < 0. Thus, we get (a, b) = (5,0) as the first real
solution.
2. Case (2): b 6= 0
If b 6= 0, then we have 3a2 −3 = b2 . Plugging this equation to the equation
a3 − 3ab2 − 3a = 110 gives

a3 − 3a(3a2 − 3) − 3a = 110 → a3 − 9a3 + 9a − 3a = 110

8a3 − 6a + 110 = 0
4a3 − 3a + 55 = 0 (6)

By Rational Roots Theorem, a = − 52 is a root of (6). Thus we have

4a3 − 3a + 55 = (2a + 5)(2a2 − 5a + 11) = 0

The quadratic factor of (6) is also irreducible, since its discriminant is

−63 < 0. So a = − 52 , which gives
√
52
   
2 21 3 7
b =3 −1
=3 →b=± ,
22 4 2
 √   √ 
and the other real solutions are (a, b) = − 25 , 3 2 7 , − 25 , − 3 2 7 .

3)[AIME2 2005] An infinite geometric series has the sum 2005. A new series is
formed such that its terms are the squares of the corresponding terms of original
series and has the sum 20050. If the common ratio r = m n , where m and n are
relatively prime positive integers, find m + n.

Solution: The original infinite geometric series is given by

a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + . . . ,

where a and r are the first term and common ratio, respectively. From the given
problem, we have
a
= 2005 (7)
1−r
A new series formed is

a2 + a2 r2 + a2 r4 + a2 r6 + . . . ,
2 American Invitational Math Examination

3
which has the sum
a2
= 20050 (8)
1 − r2
Dividing (8) and (7), we get
a
= 10 (9)
1+r
From (7) and (9), it follows that

10 + 10r = 2005 − 2005r

1995 399
r= =
2015 403
so m + n = 399 + 403 = 802.

4)[AIME 2006 I] A sequence x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 , . . . , xn , . . . of positive integers sat-

isfies x0 = 3 and |xk | = |xk−1 + 3| for all positive integers k ≥ 1. Find the
minimum possible value of

|x1 + x2 + x3 + . . . + x2006 |.

Solution: We have for k ≥ 1,

|xk | = |xk−1 + 3| → x2k = x2k−1 + 6xk−1 + 9

It follows that from k = 1, 2, 3, . . . , 2007,

x21 = x20 + 6x0 + 9

x22 = x21 + 6x1 + 9
x23 = x22 + 6x2 + 9
··················
x22007 = x22006 + 6x2006 + 9

Adding all equations gives

2007
X 2006
X 2006
X
x2i = x2i + 6 xi + 9(2007)
i=1 i=0 i=0
P2006
Let S = i=0 xi . With x0 = 0, we have
2007
X 2006
X
x2i − x2i = 6S + 18063,
i=1 i=0

or, after simplifying,

x22007 = 6S + 18063

4
In order for |S| to be small as possible, x22007 must be also small as possible.
Since we have x22007 > 18063 and S is an integer, we must have x22007 = 135 so
that

1352 = 6S + 18063
18225 − 18063
S= = 27 → |S| = 27
6
5)[MTG3 2010] Given that

1 √ 1 1√
r
a= 2+ − 2,
2 8 8
√
determine the value of a2 + a4 + a + 1.
1√
Solution: From a, we transpose 2 to the left side, square both sides and
8
collect terms:
√
2 2
a = (1 − a) (10)
4
Note that a is a root of the quadratic equation (10). We square (10), getting

1 2 a2 a 1
a4 = (a − 2a + 1) = − + ,
8 8 4 8
and adding a + 1, we have

a2 a 1
a4 + a + 1 = − + +a+1
8 4 8
a2 3a 9
= + +
8 4 8
1 2
= (a + 6a + 9) (11)
8
It follows that from (10) and (11), we get
√ r
2
p 2 1 2
a + a4 + a + 1 = (1 − a) + (a + 6a + 9)
4 8
√ √ √
2 2 2
= − a+ (a + 3)
√4 4 4
2 √
= (1 + 3) = 2
4
3 Mathematics Trainers’ Guild, Philippines

5
2 Tips
Here are the tips in solving hard algebra problems:
1. Use the basic theorems and formulas, like the square of the binomial, the
cube of the binomial, etc. whenever possible.
2. At the same manner, use these formulas to factor a polynomial (if it’s
difficult to factor, apply Rational Roots Theorem or Vieta’s Formulas).
3. Be careful to what have you solved; sometimes if there’s no proper order
in writing a solution, it’s confusing.
4. If the numbers a, b, c are in arithmetic progression, use substitutions a =
x − y, b = x, c = x + y or the formula 2b = a + c.
5. Similarly, if the numbers a, b, c are in geometric progression, use substitu-
tions a = xy , b = x, c = xy or the formula b2 = ac.
6. In solving systems of equations, use the methods like elimination, substi-
tution, etc.
7. In solving system of symmetric equations, use substitutions a = x + y and
b = xy, or x = u − v and y = u + v.
8. To have a nice solution, solve the problem first in a rough draft, then in a
separate sheet of clean paper, rewrite it systematically.
9. Don’t let the problem ”scare” you. Don’t use brute force first. Although
most of the problems in this article are difficult, there are techniques that
govern their solution. Try to find those techniques, and use basic concepts
and formulas.
10. ”Practice makes perfect”. The best way to be good in algebra is to solve
problems. Your algebra problem-solving exposure makes your ability bet-
ter, as the techniques/methods have a higher chance to handle the prob-
lem.

3 Problems
The problems in this article came from various math competitions ((Mock)AIME,
ARML4 , HMMT5 , PMO6 , etc.). These problems are arranged according to level
of difficulty. Before you solve these problems, make sure that you have tried to
solve the given examples. Here are the problems:
p √
1. Find all ordered pairs (a, b) of integers such that 2010 + 2 2009 is a
root of the quadratic equation x2 + ax + b = 0.
4 American Regional Math League
5 Harvard-MIT Math Tournament
6 Philippine Mathematical Olympiad

6
 2. Assume that x, y and z are positive real numbers satisfying the system of
equations

x + y + xy = 8
y + z + yz = 15
z + x + zx = 35

Determine the value of x + y + z + xyz.

3. Suppose that the roots of x3 + 3x2 + 4x − 11 = 0 are a, b and c and that

the roots of x3 + rx2 + sx + t = 0 are a + b, b + c and c + a. Find t.
4. If a, b and c are the roots of x3 − 5x2 + 4x − 1 = 0, determine the value of
   
1 1 1
a2 − 2 b2 − 2 c2 − 2 .
a b c

5. Find x2 + y 2 if x and y are positive integers such that

x + y + xy = 71
x2 y + xy 2 = 880

6. Let x be a real number such that x3 + 4x = 8. Determine the value of

x7 + 64x2 .
7. The equation 2000x6 + 100x5 + 10x3 + x − 2 =√ 0 has two real roots and
one of them can be expressed in the form m+r n , where m, n and r are
integers with r > 0 and m and r relatively prime. Find m + n + r.

4 More Problems
Here are the difficult ones (Solve ’em, if you can)7 :
1. If x, y and z are real numbers such that

x+y+z =9
xy + yz + zx = 24

find the maximum value of z.

2. Suppose that x and y are real numbers such that

x2 + 9y 2 − 4x + 6y + 4 = 0.

Determine the maximum value of 4x − 9y.

7 You may have some references from other math books/articles to get more information.

7
3. Solve the equation8

log3x+4 (4x2 + 4x + 1) + log2x+1 (6x2 + 11x + 4) = 4.

4. If x and y are real numbers such that

x + y − xy = 155
x2 + y 2 = 325

find the value of |x3 − y 3 |.

5. p, q, r are positive real numbers such that

p2 + pq + q 2 = 211
q 2 + qr + r2 = 259
r2 + rp + p2 = 307

Compute the value of pq + qr + rp.

6. A sequence of real numbers a0 , a1 , a2 , . . . is defined by a0 = 3 and for all
integers n ≥ 0,
(3 − an+1 )(6 + an ) = 18.
5
X 1
Find the value of9 .
ak
k=0

8 from Bulgarian Mathematical Olympiad

9 from China Mathematical Olympiad

8
5 Hints
5.1 Problems
p √
1. What can you say about the given quadratic surd (i.e 2010 + 2 2009)?

2. From the given system, it follows that (x+1)(y+1) = 9, (y+1)(z +1) = 16

and (z + 1)(x + 1) = 36.
3. Use Vieta’s Formulas.
4. Use Vieta’s Formulas.

5. Since the system is symmetric, substitute a = x + y and b = xy.

6. This problem is quite tricky. Make a chain of expressions by first isolating
4x to the given equation and multiplying the result by x. Repeat this
until the degree of the left-hand term is 7.

7. Rearrange terms to get 2000x6 −2+100x5 +10x3 +x = 0, and then factor.

5.2 More Problems

1. First, find the values of x + y and xy in terms of z. Then make a quadratic
equation whose roots are x and y. Since x and y are real, the discriminant
of this equation must be ≥ 0.
2. Assume that the line 4x−9y = k intersects the curve x2 +9y 2 −4x+6y+4 =
0 at two points. These points will coincide if the given line is tangent to the
given curve. Thus, the line is tangent to the curve if, after substitution,
the resulting quadratic formula has discriminant 0.
3. Use the properties of logarithms and the change-of-base formula: logb a =
logx a
.
logx b
4. There are two answers. Like problem 5 in Section 3: Problems, substitute
a = x + y and b = xy. Solve the resulting equations for a and b, and use
it to find x and y. Use the identity x3 − y 3 = (x − y)3 + 3xy(x − y).
5. Since 2(259) = 211 + 307, it follows that 2(q 2 + qr + r2 ) = p2 + pq + q 2 +
r2 + rp + p2 . Solve this equation in terms of q and r, and show that q, p
and r are in arithmetic progression.
6. This problem is quite hard. Before tackling this problem, read first about
recurrence formulas and how to solve them.