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2006 AMC 12A Problem 24

Problem 24 of 25HarderAlgebraNumber TheoryCombinatorics

The expression (x+y+z)2006+(x−y−z)2006 (x + y + z)^{2006} + (x - y - z)^{2006} is simplified by expanding it and combining like terms. How many terms are in the simplified expression?

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Solution

A term xaybzcx^a y^b z^c survives only when aa is even, since terms with odd aa cancel between the two expansions. For each even aa with 0≤a≤2006,0 \le a \le 2006, the exponent bb ranges over 2007−a2007 - a values and c=2006−a−bc = 2006 - a - b is then determined. Summing over even a:a: (2007−0)+(2007−2)+⋯+(2007−2006)=2007+2005+⋯+1, \begin{gathered} (2007 - 0) + (2007 - 2) \\ {}+ \cdots + (2007 - 2006) \\ = 2007 + 2005 + \cdots + 1, \end{gathered} the sum of the first 10041004 odd positive integers, which is 10042=1,008,016.1004^2 = 1{,}008{,}016. Thus, the correct answer is D.
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