1993 AJHSME Problems/Problem 24

Problem

What number is directly above $142$ in this array of numbers?

\[\begin{array}{cccccc}& & & 1 & &\\ & & 2 & 3 & 4 &\\ & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 & 9\\ 10 & 11 & 12 &\cdots & &\\ \end{array}\]

$\text{(A)}\ 99 \qquad \text{(B)}\ 119 \qquad \text{(C)}\ 120 \qquad \text{(D)}\ 121 \qquad \text{(E)}\ 122$

Solution

Solution 1

Notice that a number in row $k$ is $2k$ less than the number directly below it. For example, $5$, which is in row $3$, is $(2)(3)=6$ less than the number below it, $11$.

From row 1 to row $k$, there are $k \left(\frac{1+(-1+2k)}{2} \right) = k^2$ numbers in those $k$ rows. Because there are $12^2=144$ numbers up to the 12th row, $142$ is in the $k^{th}$ row. The number directly above is in the 11th row, and is $22$ less than $142$. Thus the number directly above $142$ is $142-22=\boxed{\text{(C)}\ 120}$.

Solution 2

Writing a couple more rows, the last number in each row ends in a perfect square. Thus $142$ is two left from the last number in its row, $144$. One left and one up from $144$ is the last number of its row, also a perfect square, and is $121$. This is one right and one up from $142$, so the number directly above $142$ is one less than $121$, or $\boxed{\text{(C)}\ 120}$.

Remark: The last number in each row ends in a perfect square because there is an odd amount of numbers in each row and the sum of the first n odd numbers is always a perfect square.

Solution 3 (eyeball it)

We can notice that even numbers are above even numbers so we can narrow our answers down to 2 solutions, $120$ and $122$. Notice each number on the right end of each row is a perfect square. The perfect square closest to these is $121$ so $122$ is the first number on the next row. Notice $142$ is the third to last number on its row so it is too far away from 122, so our answer is $\boxed{\text{(C)}\ 120}$.

See Also

1993 AJHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 23
Followed by
Problem 25
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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