2025 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 25: Difference between revisions
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Polynomials <imath>P(x)</imath> and <imath>Q(x)</imath> each have degree <imath>3</imath> and leading coefficient <imath>1</imath>, and their roots are all elements of <imath>\{1,2,3,4,5\}</imath>. The function <imath>f(x) = \tfrac{P(x)}{Q(x)}</imath> has the property that there exist real numbers <imath>a < b < c < d</imath> such that the set of all real numbers <imath>x</imath> such that <imath>f(x) \leq 0</imath> consists of the closed interval <imath>[a,b]</imath> together with the open interval <imath>(c,d)</imath>. How many ordered pairs of polynomials <imath>(P, Q)</imath> are possible? | Polynomials <imath>P(x)</imath> and <imath>Q(x)</imath> each have degree <imath>3</imath> and leading coefficient <imath>1</imath>, and their roots are all elements of <imath>\{1,2,3,4,5\}</imath>. The function <imath>f(x) = \tfrac{P(x)}{Q(x)}</imath> has the property that there exist real numbers <imath>a < b < c < d</imath> such that the set of all real numbers <imath>x</imath> such that <imath>f(x) \leq 0</imath> consists of the closed interval <imath>[a,b]</imath> together with the open interval <imath>(c,d)</imath>. How many ordered pairs of polynomials <imath>(P, Q)</imath> are possible? | ||
<imath>\textbf{(A)}~7 \qquad \textbf{(B)}~9 \qquad \textbf{(C)}~11 \qquad \textbf{(D)}~12 \qquad \textbf{(E)}~13</imath> | <imath>\textbf{(A)}~7 \qquad \textbf{(B)}~9 \qquad \textbf{(C)}~11 \qquad \textbf{(D)}~12 \qquad \textbf{(E)}~13 \qquad \textbf{(F)}~8</imath> | ||
==Why MAA got this wrong== | ==Why MAA initially got this wrong== | ||
If you look at solution 2, they overcounted the second case, essentially saying that <imath>f</imath> had <imath>2</imath> choices because it could equal <imath>c</imath> or <imath>d</imath>, so the intended answer was <imath>3 + 5 \cdot 2 = 13.</imath> | If you look at solution 2, they overcounted the second case, essentially saying that <imath>f</imath> had <imath>2</imath> choices because it could equal <imath>c</imath> or <imath>d</imath>, so the intended answer was <imath>3 + 5 \cdot 2 = 13.</imath> This would be correct if the problem was asking for the number of pairs of polynomials. But there is actually only <imath>1</imath> choice for <imath>f</imath> because no matter what variable we choose <imath>f</imath> to equal, both polynomial combinations result in the same function. So the correct answer was <imath>3 + 5 \cdot 1 = 8</imath> functions. | ||
Desmos graph showing how these functions are exactly the same: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/w6sk67ly1i | Desmos graph showing how these functions are exactly the same: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/w6sk67ly1i | ||
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~[[User:grogg007|grogg007]] | ~[[User:grogg007|grogg007]] | ||
==Solution 1== | ==Solution 1 (Got Wrong)== | ||
None of the answer choices on the official test (which asked for the number of possible functions <imath>f(x)</imath>) were correct, but choice E would be correct if this problem asked for the number of pairs of functions <imath>(P(x), Q(x))</imath>. | None of the answer choices on the official test (which asked for the number of possible functions <imath>f(x)</imath>) were correct, but choice E would be correct if this problem asked for the number of pairs of functions <imath>(P(x), Q(x))</imath>. | ||
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Since <imath>R(x) \leq 0</imath> on <imath>(c, d)</imath> but not at <imath>x = c</imath> or <imath>x = d</imath>, <imath>R(x)</imath> is not continuous at <imath>x = c</imath> or <imath>x = d</imath>. Therefore, <imath>R(x)</imath> must be undefined at <imath>x = c</imath> and <imath>x = d</imath>, that is, <imath>Q(x) = 0</imath> at <imath>x = c</imath> and <imath>x = d</imath>. So <imath>Q(x) = (x-c)(x-d)(x-s)</imath> for some <imath>s \in \{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}</imath>. | Since <imath>R(x) \leq 0</imath> on <imath>(c, d)</imath> but not at <imath>x = c</imath> or <imath>x = d</imath>, <imath>R(x)</imath> is not continuous at <imath>x = c</imath> or <imath>x = d</imath>. Therefore, <imath>R(x)</imath> must be undefined at <imath>x = c</imath> and <imath>x = d</imath>, that is, <imath>Q(x) = 0</imath> at <imath>x = c</imath> and <imath>x = d</imath>. So <imath>Q(x) = (x-c)(x-d)(x-s)</imath> for some <imath>s \in \{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}</imath>. | ||
Therefore, <imath>R(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-r)}{(x-c)(x-d)(x-s)}</imath>. Notice that <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)} \leq 0</imath> only on <imath>[a, b]</imath> and <imath>(c, d)</imath>. Therefore, <imath>\frac{x-r}{x-s}</imath> must be | Therefore, <imath>R(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-r)}{(x-c)(x-d)(x-s)}</imath>. Notice that <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)} \leq 0</imath> only on <imath>[a, b]</imath> and <imath>(c, d)</imath>. Therefore, <imath>\frac{x-r}{x-s}</imath> must be nonnegative for all <imath>x \notin \{a, b, c, d, r, s\}</imath>. This only happens if <imath>r = s</imath>. | ||
Thus <imath>R(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-r)}{(x-c)(x-d)(x-r)}</imath>, which is the same as <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)}</imath> except that it is undefined at <imath>x = r</imath>. Thus <imath>R(x)</imath> satisfies the desired property as long as <imath>r \notin [a, b] \cup (c, d)</imath>. | Thus <imath>R(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-r)}{(x-c)(x-d)(x-r)}</imath>, which is the same as <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)}</imath> except that it is undefined at <imath>x = r</imath>. Thus <imath>R(x)</imath> satisfies the desired property as long as <imath>r \notin [a, b] \cup (c, d)</imath>. | ||
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-j314andrews | -j314andrews | ||
==Solution (credit to Sohil Rathi's video solution, pi_is_3.14 / OmegaLearn)== | ==Solution 2 (credit to Sohil Rathi's video solution, pi_is_3.14 / OmegaLearn)== | ||
This is the solution to the original problem, which asked for the number of possible functions, not pairs of polynomials. | This is the solution to the original problem, which asked for the number of possible '''functions''', not pairs of polynomials. | ||
First, consider the problem if it were talking about two second degree polynomials. We can see that the function <cmath>f(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)}</cmath> by itself satisfies the condition of dropping below the x axis over <imath>[a,b] \cup (c,d).</imath> Now, we need to add one extra <imath>(x-n)</imath> term each to the numerator and denominator. | First, consider the problem if it were talking about two second degree polynomials. We can see that the function <cmath>f(x) = \frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)}</cmath> by itself satisfies the condition of dropping below the x axis over <imath>[a,b] \cup (c,d).</imath> Now, we need to add one extra <imath>(x-n)</imath> term each to the numerator and denominator. | ||
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The correct answer is <imath>5 + 3 = \boxed{\textbf{(F) } 8} | The correct answer is <imath>5 + 3 = \boxed{\textbf{(F) } 8}</imath> functions. | ||
~[[User:grogg007|grogg007]], original solution by OmegaLearn/ Sohil Rathi | ~[[User:grogg007|grogg007]], original solution by OmegaLearn/ Sohil Rathi | ||
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i tried my best to show what I think was Sohil's thought process, but please feel free to edit this if you can explain it better :) | i tried my best to show what I think was Sohil's thought process, but please feel free to edit this if you can explain it better :) | ||
==Video Solution by OmegaLearn== | ==Solution 3== | ||
'''Solution 1''' by user j314andrews is incomplete; '''Solution 2''' by user [[User:grogg007|grogg007]] commits a serious logical error because it only provides functions that satisfy the requirements, without showing that no other functions do. Other places like [https://wiki.randommath.com/amc12/2025/part-a/problem-25] gives a good solution, but unfortunately it requires calculus. Here I am trying to provide a good solution that does not require calculus. | |||
Let <imath>D</imath> and <imath>E</imath> be the set of the real roots of <imath>P(x)</imath> and <imath>Q(x)</imath>, respectively. Then, outside of the intervals <imath>[a,b]</imath> and <imath>(c,d)</imath>, <imath>f(x)>0</imath> except when <imath>x \in E</imath>, where <imath>f(x)</imath> is undefined. | |||
For any function <imath>g(x)</imath>, define a real number <imath>t</imath> as a '''toggling point''' for <imath>g(x)</imath> if there exists a sequence <imath>t_1 < t_2 < ... < t_N</imath>, with the understanding that <imath>t_0 = -\infty</imath> and <imath>t_{N+1} = \infty</imath>, such that | |||
* <imath>t = t_k</imath> for some <imath>1 \leq k \leq N</imath>, | |||
* <imath>g(x)</imath> is of the same sign (either always positive or always negative) on each interval <imath>(t_j, t_{j+1})</imath>, for <imath>j=0, ..., N</imath>, and | |||
* <imath>g(x)</imath> has opposite signs on <imath>(t_{k-1}, t_k)</imath> and <imath>(t_k, t_{k+1})</imath>. | |||
We call these open intervals <imath>(t_j, t_{j+1})</imath> (<imath>j=0, ..., N</imath>) the '''bands''' of <imath>g(x)</imath>. | |||
The polynomial <imath>P(x)</imath> has no toggling point outside of <imath>D</imath>, and <imath>Q(x)</imath> has no toggling point outside of <imath>E</imath>. Now in our problem, <imath>f(x)</imath> has exactly 4 toggling points: <imath>a, b, c, d</imath>. Our task is to see how these four points are related to the sets <imath>D</imath> and <imath>E</imath>. | |||
'''Lemma'''. At each toggling point <imath>t</imath> for <imath>f(x)</imath>, | |||
# either <imath>P(t)=0</imath> or <imath>Q(t)=0</imath> (or both); | |||
# if the multiplicities of the root <imath>t</imath> of <imath>P(x)</imath> and <imath>Q(x)</imath> are <imath>m</imath> and <imath>n</imath>, respectively, then <imath>m-n</imath> is odd. | |||
'''Proof'''. (1) if both <imath>P(t)</imath> and <imath>Q(t)</imath> are nonzero, then <imath>t</imath> belongs to a band of <imath>P(x)</imath> and a band of <imath>Q(x)</imath>. Taking the intersection between these two bands, we get an open interval on which <imath>f(x)</imath> has the same sign as <imath>f(t)</imath>. Thus <imath>t</imath> cannot be a toggling point of <imath>f(x)</imath>. | |||
(2) If <imath>m</imath> is odd, there are real numbers <imath>r, s</imath>, with <imath>r<t<s</imath>, such that <imath>P(x)</imath> has the same sign on <imath>(r,t)</imath> and has the opposite sign on <imath>(t, s)</imath>. If <imath>m</imath> is even, there are real numbers <imath>r, s</imath>, with <imath>r<t<s</imath>, such that <imath>P(x)</imath> has the same sign on <imath>(r,t)</imath> and on <imath>(t,s)</imath>. Similar statements can be made of <imath>Q(x)</imath>, having intervals <imath>(u, t)</imath> and <imath>(t, v)</imath> so that <imath>Q(t)</imath> is of the same sign on <imath>(u,t)</imath>, and of either a different or the same sign on <imath>(t, v)</imath>, depending on the parity of <imath>n</imath>. If both <imath>m</imath> and <imath>n</imath> are odd or both <imath>m</imath> and <imath>n</imath> are even, then <imath>P(t)/Q(t)</imath> is of the same sign on the interval <imath>(\max\{r, u\}, t)</imath> and <imath>(t, \min\{s, v\})</imath>, so <imath>t</imath> cannot be a toggling point for <imath>f(x)</imath>. | |||
'''Solution to the problem'''. | |||
Since <imath>a</imath> is a toggling point for <imath>f(x)</imath>, either <imath>P(a)=0</imath> or <imath>Q(a)=0</imath>, or both. But since <imath>f(a)</imath> is defined, we have <imath>Q(a)\neq 0</imath>, so <imath>P(a)=0</imath>. The same can be said of <imath>b</imath>, so <imath>P(b)=0</imath>. The multiplicities of <imath>a</imath> and <imath>b</imath> must be <imath>1</imath>. Otherwise, point (2) of the Lemma would require the multiplicity of one of them to be at least <imath>3</imath>, but <imath>P(x)</imath> is only cubic. | |||
<imath>c</imath> is a toggling point for <imath>f(x)</imath>, so either <imath>P(c)=0</imath> or <imath>Q(c)=0</imath>, or both. But if <imath>Q(c)\neq 0</imath>, we have <imath>f(c)=0</imath>, violating the condition. So <imath>Q(c)=0</imath>. Similarly, <imath>Q(d)=0</imath>. Concerning their multiplicities, point (2) of the Lemma gives us three cases, given that <imath>Q(x)</imath> is only cubic: | |||
* (a) <imath>c</imath> is a single root of <imath>Q(x)</imath>, <imath>P(c)\neq 0</imath>, <imath>d</imath> is a double root of <imath>Q(x)</imath> and a single root of <imath>P(x)</imath>; | |||
* (b) switching the roles of <imath>c</imath> and <imath>d</imath>; | |||
* (c) both <imath>c</imath> and <imath>d</imath> are single roots of <imath>Q(x)</imath>, and <imath>Q(x)</imath> has a single root <imath>e</imath> other than <imath>c</imath> and <imath>d</imath>. | |||
Case (a) provides functions in the form of <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-d)}{(x-c)(x-d)^2}</imath>. There are 5 of them because there are 5 ways to choose <imath>a, b, c, d</imath> from the set <imath>\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}</imath>. | |||
Case (b) provides functions in the form of <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)}{(x-c)^2(x-d)}</imath>, but they are the same as those provided in case (a). To ensure this, notice that the two expressions have the same domain and they are equal for every <imath>x</imath> in their domains. | |||
Case (c) requires that <imath>P(e)=0</imath>, because if <imath>P(e)\neq 0</imath> then <imath>e</imath> becomes an extra toggling point for <imath>f(x)</imath>. So this case provides functions in the form of <imath>\frac{(x-a)(x-b)(x-e)}{(x-c)(x-d)(x-e)}</imath>. But since <imath>f(e)</imath> is undefined, we need to make sure that <imath>e</imath> does not fall into <imath>[a,b]</imath> or <imath>(c,d)</imath>. So <imath>e</imath> can be <imath>1, 3, 5</imath>. In all these cases, we also have <imath>f(e) = \frac{(e-a)(e-b)}{(e-c)(e-d)} > 0</imath>, satisfying the conditions. That's 3 more functions. | |||
So the total number of functions is <imath>5 + 3 = \boxed{8}</imath>. | |||
[[User:Lightest|Lightest]] ([[User talk:Lightest|talk]]) 22:51, 10 November 2025 (EST) | |||
==Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn== | |||
https://youtu.be/SPbTyq3Dz_0 | https://youtu.be/SPbTyq3Dz_0 | ||
Latest revision as of 12:14, 11 November 2025
Problem
Polynomials
and
each have degree
and leading coefficient
, and their roots are all elements of
. The function
has the property that there exist real numbers
such that the set of all real numbers
such that
consists of the closed interval
together with the open interval
. How many ordered pairs of polynomials
are possible?
Why MAA initially got this wrong
If you look at solution 2, they overcounted the second case, essentially saying that
had
choices because it could equal
or
, so the intended answer was
This would be correct if the problem was asking for the number of pairs of polynomials. But there is actually only
choice for
because no matter what variable we choose
to equal, both polynomial combinations result in the same function. So the correct answer was
functions.
Desmos graph showing how these functions are exactly the same: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/w6sk67ly1i
Solution 1 (Got Wrong)
None of the answer choices on the official test (which asked for the number of possible functions
) were correct, but choice E would be correct if this problem asked for the number of pairs of functions
.
Let
. Since
on
but not for values slightly less than
or slightly more than
,
at
and
. Therefore,
for some
.
Since
on
but not at
or
,
is not continuous at
or
. Therefore,
must be undefined at
and
, that is,
at
and
. So
for some
.
Therefore,
. Notice that
only on
and
. Therefore,
must be nonnegative for all
. This only happens if
.
Thus
, which is the same as
except that it is undefined at
. Thus
satisfies the desired property as long as
.
Note that each quintuple
defines a unique pair of functions
.
If
,
can be
,
, or
.
If
,
can be
or
.
If
,
can be
,
, or
.
If
,
can be
or
.
If
,
can be
,
, or
.
Therefore, there are
possible pairs of functions
.
-j314andrews
Solution 2 (credit to Sohil Rathi's video solution, pi_is_3.14 / OmegaLearn)
This is the solution to the original problem, which asked for the number of possible functions, not pairs of polynomials.
First, consider the problem if it were talking about two second degree polynomials. We can see that the function
by itself satisfies the condition of dropping below the x axis over
Now, we need to add one extra
term each to the numerator and denominator.
Case 1:
for some other value
not equal to
or
Note that
cannot be between
and
or between
and
because this would create a hole in the interval. So the only possibilities are:
This gives us
valid functions so far.
Case 2:
where
is
or
If
equals
or
the resulting function is essentially equivalent to
because a hole would already exist, so we can safely cancel the
terms. It doesn't matter whether we choose
to equal
or
because the function will still be the same. There are
ways to select the values for
and
and
way to choose any variable for
to equal, giving
valid functions for this case.
The correct answer is
functions.
~grogg007, original solution by OmegaLearn/ Sohil Rathi
i tried my best to show what I think was Sohil's thought process, but please feel free to edit this if you can explain it better :)
Solution 3
Solution 1 by user j314andrews is incomplete; Solution 2 by user grogg007 commits a serious logical error because it only provides functions that satisfy the requirements, without showing that no other functions do. Other places like [1] gives a good solution, but unfortunately it requires calculus. Here I am trying to provide a good solution that does not require calculus.
Let
and
be the set of the real roots of
and
, respectively. Then, outside of the intervals
and
,
except when
, where
is undefined.
For any function
, define a real number
as a toggling point for
if there exists a sequence
, with the understanding that
and
, such that
for some
,
is of the same sign (either always positive or always negative) on each interval
, for
, and
has opposite signs on
and
.
We call these open intervals
(
) the bands of
.
The polynomial
has no toggling point outside of
, and
has no toggling point outside of
. Now in our problem,
has exactly 4 toggling points:
. Our task is to see how these four points are related to the sets
and
.
Lemma. At each toggling point
for
,
- either
or
(or both); - if the multiplicities of the root
of
and
are
and
, respectively, then
is odd.
Proof. (1) if both
and
are nonzero, then
belongs to a band of
and a band of
. Taking the intersection between these two bands, we get an open interval on which
has the same sign as
. Thus
cannot be a toggling point of
.
(2) If
is odd, there are real numbers
, with
, such that
has the same sign on
and has the opposite sign on
. If
is even, there are real numbers
, with
, such that
has the same sign on
and on
. Similar statements can be made of
, having intervals
and
so that
is of the same sign on
, and of either a different or the same sign on
, depending on the parity of
. If both
and
are odd or both
and
are even, then
is of the same sign on the interval
and
, so
cannot be a toggling point for
.
Solution to the problem.
Since
is a toggling point for
, either
or
, or both. But since
is defined, we have
, so
. The same can be said of
, so
. The multiplicities of
and
must be
. Otherwise, point (2) of the Lemma would require the multiplicity of one of them to be at least
, but
is only cubic.
is a toggling point for
, so either
or
, or both. But if
, we have
, violating the condition. So
. Similarly,
. Concerning their multiplicities, point (2) of the Lemma gives us three cases, given that
is only cubic:
- (a)
is a single root of
,
,
is a double root of
and a single root of
; - (b) switching the roles of
and
; - (c) both
and
are single roots of
, and
has a single root
other than
and
.
Case (a) provides functions in the form of
. There are 5 of them because there are 5 ways to choose
from the set
.
Case (b) provides functions in the form of
, but they are the same as those provided in case (a). To ensure this, notice that the two expressions have the same domain and they are equal for every
in their domains.
Case (c) requires that
, because if
then
becomes an extra toggling point for
. So this case provides functions in the form of
. But since
is undefined, we need to make sure that
does not fall into
or
. So
can be
. In all these cases, we also have
, satisfying the conditions. That's 3 more functions.
So the total number of functions is
.
Lightest (talk) 22:51, 10 November 2025 (EST)
Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn
See Also
| 2025 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
| Preceded by Problem 24 |
Followed by Last Problem |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | |
| All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions | |
These problems are copyrighted © by the Mathematical Association of America.