2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 15

Problem

Recall that the conjugate of the complex number $w = a + bi$ , where $a$ and $b$ are real numbers and $i = \sqrt{-1}$ , is the complex number $\overline{w} = a - bi$ . For any complex number $z$ , let $f(z) = 4i\hspace{1pt}\overline{z}$ . The polynomial $P(z) = z^4 + 4z^3 + 3z^2 + 2z + 1$ has four complex roots: $z_1$ , $z_2$ , $z_3$ , and $z_4$ . Let $Q(z) = z^4 + Az^3 + Bz^2 + Cz + D$ be the polynomial whose roots are $f(z_1)$ , $f(z_2)$ , $f(z_3)$ , and $f(z_4)$ , where the coefficients $A,$ $B,$ $C,$ and $D$ are complex numbers. What is $B + D?$

$(\textbf{A})\: {-}304\qquad(\textbf{B}) \: {-}208\qquad(\textbf{C}) \: 12i\qquad(\textbf{D}) \: 208\qquad(\textbf{E}) \: 304$

Solution

By Vieta's formulas, $z_1z_2+z_1z_3+\dots+z_3z_4=3$ , and $B=(4i)^2\left(\overline{z}_1\,\overline{z}_2+\overline{z}_1\,\overline{z}_3+\dots+\overline{z}_3\,\overline{z}_4\right).$

Since $\overline{a}\cdot\overline{b}=\overline{ab},$ $B=(4i)^2\left(\overline{z_1z_2}+\overline{z_1z_3}+\overline{z_1z_4}+\overline{z_2z_3}+\overline{z_2z_4}+\overline{z_3z_4}\right).$ Since $\overline{a}+\overline{b}=\overline{a+b},$ $B=(4i)^2\left(\overline{z_1z_2+z_1z_3+\dots+z_3z_4}\right)=-16(\overline{3})=-48$

Also, $z_1z_2z_3z_4=1,$ and $D=(4i)^4\left(\overline{z}_1\,\overline{z}_2\,\overline{z}_3\,\overline{z}_4\right)=256\left(\overline{z_1z_2z_3z_4}\right)=256(\overline{1})=256.$

Our answer is $B+D=256-48=\boxed{(\textbf{D}) \: 208}.$

~kingofpineapplz

2021 Fall AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 14	Followed by Problem 16
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

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

Page

Toolbox

Search

2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 15

Problem

Solution

See Also