Difference between revisions of "2023 WSMO Accuracy Round Problems/Problem 1"

(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==")
 
 
Line 4: Line 4:
  
 
==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 11:35, 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