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2019 AMC 12B Problem 8

Problem 8 of 25EasierAlgebraProblem-Solving Techniques

Let f(x)=x2(1−x)2.f(x)=x^2(1-x)^2. What is the value of the sum f ⁣(12019)−f ⁣(22019)+f ⁣(32019)−f ⁣(42019)+⋯+f ⁣(20172019)−f ⁣(20182019)? \begin{gathered} f\!\left(\tfrac{1}{2019}\right)-f\!\left(\tfrac{2}{2019}\right) \\ {}+f\!\left(\tfrac{3}{2019}\right)-f\!\left(\tfrac{4}{2019}\right) \\ {}+\cdots+f\!\left(\tfrac{2017}{2019}\right) \\ {}-f\!\left(\tfrac{2018}{2019}\right)? \end{gathered}

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Solution

Since f(1−x)=(1−x)2x2=f(x),f(1-x)=(1-x)^2x^2=f(x), we have f ⁣(k2019)=f ⁣(2019−k2019).f\!\left(\tfrac{k}{2019}\right)=f\!\left(\tfrac{2019-k}{2019}\right). In the sum, the term with index kk has sign (−1)k+1,(-1)^{k+1}, while the term with index 2019−k2019-k equals it in value but has sign (−1)2019−k+1=(−1)k,(-1)^{2019-k+1}=(-1)^{k}, the opposite. Every term cancels with its partner, so the total is 0.0. Thus, A is the correct answer.
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Tagged: symmetry (algebra) · pairing and grouping

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