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jmc

algebra senior

Problem

Let be the largest real solution to the equation There are positive integers and such that . Find .
Solution
Adding to both sides, we have or Either , or To induce some symmetry, we calculate that the average of the numbers is . Then, letting , we have or, combining the first and last terms and the second and third terms, Either , or we can divide by and cross-multiply, giving Completing the square, we get , so , and . Undoing the substitution , we have Therefore, the largest root is (which is larger than both and ), and the answer is .
Final answer
263