2014 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 8

Problem

Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \dfrac{14!15!}2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \dfrac{15!16!}2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \dfrac{16!17!}2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \dfrac{17!18!}2\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \dfrac{18!19!}2$

Solution

Note that for all positive $n$, we have \[\dfrac{n!(n+1)!}{2}\] \[\implies\dfrac{(n!)^2\cdot(n+1)}{2}\] \[\implies (n!)^2\cdot\dfrac{n+1}{2}\]

We must find a value of $n$ such that $(n!)^2\cdot\dfrac{n+1}{2}$ is a perfect square. Since $(n!)^2$ is a perfect square, we must also have $\frac{n+1}{2}$ be a perfect square.

In order for $\frac{n+1}{2}$ to be a perfect square, $n+1$ must be twice a perfect square. From the answer choices, $n+1=18$ works, thus, $n=17$ and our desired answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{17!18!}{2}}$

Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING)

https://youtu.be/sa9OON6KXb8

~Education, the Study of Everything

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/uY_Xp8GtXP8

~savannahsolver

See Also

2014 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png