Art of Problem Solving

1991 AIME Problems/Problem 4: Difference between revisions

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== Solution ==
== Solution ==
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<center>[[Image:AIME_1991_Solution_04.png]]</center>
The [[range]] of the [[sine]] function is <math>-1 \le y \le 1</math>. It is [[periodic function|periodic]] (in this problem) with a period of <math>\frac{2}{5}</math>.  
The [[range]] of the [[sine]] function is <math>-1 \le y \le 1</math>. It is [[periodic function|periodic]] (in this problem) with a period of <math>\frac{2}{5}</math>.  


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== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Trigonometry]]
*[[Trigonometry]]
*[http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=70180 Aops Topic]
{{AIME box|year=1991|num-b=3|num-a=5}}
{{AIME box|year=1991|num-b=3|num-a=5}}


[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]
[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]

Revision as of 18:40, 3 November 2007

Problem

How many real numbers $x^{}_{}$ satisfy the equation $\frac{1}{5}\log_2 x = \sin (5\pi x)$?

Solution

The range of the sine function is $-1 \le y \le 1$. It is periodic (in this problem) with a period of $\frac{2}{5}$.

Thus, $-1 \le \frac{1}{5} \log_2 x \le 1$, and $-5 \le \log_2 x \le 5$. The solutions for $x$ occur in the domain of $\frac{1}{32} \le x \le 32$. When $x > 1$ the logarithm function returns a positive value; up to $x = 32$ it will pass through the sine curve. There are exactly 10 intersections of five periods (every two integral values of $x$) of the sine curve and another curve that is $< 1$, so there are $\frac{32}{2} \cdot 10 - 6 = 160 - 6 = 154$ values (the subtraction of 6 since all the “intersections” when $x < 1$ must be disregarded). When $y = 0$, there is exactly $1$ touching point between the two functions: $(\frac{1}{5},0)$. When $y < 0$ or $x < 1$, we can count $4$ more solutions. The solution is $154 + 1 + 4 = 159$.

See also

1991 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 3
Followed by
Problem 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions