2018 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 11
Contents
[hide]Problem
Which of the following expressions is never a prime number when is a prime number?
Solution
Solution 1
Each expression is in the form .
All prime numbers are of the form , AKA they are congruent to . We can utilize this nicely to check for what we are looking for. If the expression is a prime, then
Now, just check for in each option using this condition to check whether its prime or not.
Therefore, the answer is .
~
Solution 2
Because squares of a non-multiple of 3 is always , the only expression always a multiple of is . This is excluding when , which only occurs when , then which is still composite.
Solution 3 (Answer Choices)
Since the question asks which of the following will never be a prime number when is a prime number, a way to find the answer is by trying to find a value for such that the statement above won't be true.
A) isn't true when because , which is prime
B) isn't true when because , which is prime
C)
D) isn't true when because , which is prime
E) isn't true when because , which is prime
Therefore, is the correct answer.
-DAWAE
Minor edit by Lucky1256. P=___ was the wrong number.
More minor edits by beanlol.
More minor edits by mathmonkey12.
Video Solution (HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY!!!)
~Education, the Study of Everything
Video Solution 1
Video Solution 2
https://youtu.be/3bRjcrkd5mQ?t=187
See Also
2018 AMC 10B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 10 |
Followed by Problem 12 | |
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.