2003 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

Problem

Given that $\log_{10} \sin x + \log_{10} \cos x = -1$ and that $\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} n - 1),$ find $n.$

Solution 1

Using the properties of logarithms, we can simplify the first equation to $\log_{10} \sin x + \log_{10} \cos x = \log_{10}(\sin x \cos x) = -1$ . Therefore, $\sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{10}.\qquad (*)$

Now, manipulate the second equation. $\begin{align*} \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) &= \frac{1}{2}(\log_{10} n - \log_{10} 10) \\ \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) &= \left(\log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\right) \\ \sin x + \cos x &= \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}} \\ (\sin x + \cos x)^{2} &= \left(\sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}\right)^2 \\ \sin^2 x + \cos^2 x +2 \sin x \cos x &= \frac{n}{10} \\ \end{align*}$

By the Pythagorean identities, $\sin ^2 x + \cos ^2 x = 1$ , and we can substitute the value for $\sin x \cos x$ from $(*)$ . $1 + 2\left(\frac{1}{10}\right) = \frac{n}{10} \Longrightarrow n = \boxed{012}$ .

Solution 2

Examining the first equation, we simplify as the following: $\log_{10} \sin x \cos x = -1$ $\implies \sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{10}$

With this in mind, examining the second equation, we may simplify as the following (utilizing logarithm properties): $\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} n - \log_{10} 10)$ $\implies \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \frac{1}{2} (\log_{10} \frac{n}{10})$ $\implies \log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x) = \log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}$

From here, we may divide both sides by $\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x)$ and then proceed with the change-of-base logarithm property: $1 = \frac{\log_{10} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}}{\log_{10} (\sin x + \cos x)}$ $\implies 1 = \log_{\sin x + \cos x} \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}$

Thus, exponentiating both sides results in $\sin x + \cos x = \sqrt{\frac{n}{10}}$ . Squaring both sides gives us $\sin^2 x + 2\sin x \cos x + \cos^2 x = \frac{n}{10}$

Via the Pythagorean Identity, $\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1$ and $2\sin x \cos x$ is simply $\frac{1}{5}$ , via substitution. Thus, substituting these results into the current equation: $1 + \frac{1}{5} = \frac{n}{10}$ $\implies \frac{6}{5} = \frac{n}{10}$

Using simple cross-multiplication techniques, we have $5n = 60$ , and thus $\boxed{n = 012}$ . ~ nikenissan

Solution 3

By the first equation, we get that $\sin(x)*\cos(x)=10^{-1}$ . We can let $\sin(x)=a$ , $\cos(x)=b$ . Thus $ab=\frac{1}{10}$ . By the identity $\sin^2x+\cos^2x=1$ , we get that $a^2+b^2=1$ . Solving this, we get $a+b=\sqrt{\frac{12}{10}}$ . So we have

$\log\left(\sqrt{\frac{12}{10}}\right)=\frac12(\log(n)-1)$ $2\log\left(\sqrt{\frac{12}{10}}\right)=\log(n)-1$ $\log\left(\frac{12}{10}\right)+1=\log(n)$ $\log\left(\frac{12}{10}\right)+\log(10)=\log(n)$ $\log\left(\frac{12}{10}\times 10\right)=\log(12)=\log(n)$

From here it is obvious that $\boxed{n=012}$ .

~yofro

Solution 4

Let $a=\cos(x)$ and $b=\sin(x)$ . We know that $a^2+b^2=1$ and $ab=\frac{1}{10}$ .

2003 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 3	Followed by Problem 5
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