Define the function f: \R \rightarrow \R by
f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2 + \sqrt{x^4 + 2x}} where x \not \in (-\sqrt[3]{2}, 0], and f(x) = 0 otherwise.
The sum of all real numbers x for which f^{10}(x) = 1 can be written as \frac{a + b\sqrt{c}}{d} where a,b,c,d are integers, d > 0, c is square-free, and gcd(a,b,d) = 1.
Find 1000a + 100b + 10c + d
(Here, f^n(x) is the function f(x) fed into itself n times, i.e. f^3(x) = f(f(f(x)).)
Source: HMMT November 2021, General Round
Happy problem solving!
Feel free to email your solution to [email protected] or check the solutions page next week!
About the author
-
Zach Marinovhttps://etonstem.com/author/zach
-
Zach Marinovhttps://etonstem.com/author/zach
-
Zach Marinovhttps://etonstem.com/author/zach
-
Zach Marinovhttps://etonstem.com/author/zach
Related posts
Categories
- Biology (2)
- Chemistry (1)
- Engineering (13)
- Enrichment (3)
- Essays (10)
- General (6)
- Interviews (11)
- Maths (50)
- Problem of the Week (62)
- Science (61)
- Sustainability (12)
- Technology (27)