Difference between revisions of "2016 AIME II Problems/Problem 1"

Latest revision as of 01:50, 1 March 2024

Problem

Initially Alex, Betty, and Charlie had a total of $444$ peanuts. Charlie had the most peanuts, and Alex had the least. The three numbers of peanuts that each person had formed a geometric progression. Alex eats $5$ of his peanuts, Betty eats $9$ of her peanuts, and Charlie eats $25$ of his peanuts. Now the three numbers of peanuts each person has forms an arithmetic progression. Find the number of peanuts Alex had initially.

Solution 1

Let $r$ be the common ratio, where $r>1$ . We then have $ar-9-(a-5)=a(r-1)-4=ar^{2}-25-(ar-9)=ar(r-1)-16$ . We now have, letting, subtracting the 2 equations, $ar^{2}+-2ar+a=12$ , so we have $3ar=432,$ or $ar=144$ , which is how much Betty had. Now we have $144+\dfrac{144}{r}+144r=444$ , or $144(r+\dfrac{1}{r})=300$ , or $r+\dfrac{1}{r}=\dfrac{25}{12}$ , which solving for $r$ gives $r=\dfrac{4}{3}$ , since $r>1$ , so Alex had $\dfrac{3}{4} \cdot 144=\boxed{108}$ peanuts.

Solution 2 (Quadratic Formula)

Let $a$ be Alex's peanuts and $k$ the common ratio. Then we have $a(k^2+k+1)=444$ . Adding $k$ to both sides and factoring,

$\frac{444}{a}+k=(k+1)^2$

For the common difference, $ak=5-(a-5)=ak^2-25-(ak-9)$ . Simplifying, $k^2-2k+1=\frac{12}{a}$ . Factoring, $(k-1)^2=\frac{12}{a}$

$(k+1)^2-(k-1)^2=4k \implies 4k=\frac{444-12}{a}+k \implies k=\frac{144}{a}$

Substitute $k$ in the second equation to get $(\frac{144-a}{a})^2=\frac{12}{a}$ . Expanding and applying the quadratic formula, $a=150\pm\frac{\sqrt{300^2-4(144^2)}}{2}$ Taking out $4^2\cdot3^2$ from under the radical leaves $a=150\pm6\sqrt{625-576}=108, 192$ Since Alex's peanut number was the lowest of the trio, and $3*192>444$ , Alex initially had $\boxed{108}$ peanuts.

Solution 3

Let the initial numbers of peanuts Alex, Betty and Charlie had be $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ respectively. Let the final numbers of peanuts, after eating, be $a'$ , $b'$ , and $c'$ .

We are given that $a + b + c = 444$ . Since a total of $5 + 9 + 25 = 39$ peanuts are eaten, we must have $a' + b' + c' = 444 - 39 = 405$ . Since $a'$ , $b'$ , and $c'$ form an arithmetic progression, we have that $a' = b' - x$ and $c' = b' + x$ for some integer $x$ . Substituting yields $3b' = 405$ and so $b' = 135$ . Since Betty ate $9$ peanuts, it follows that $b = b' + 9 = 144$ .

Since $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ form a geometric progression, we have that $a = \frac{b}{r}$ and $c = br$ . Multiplying yields $ac = b^2 = 144^2$ . Since $a + c = 444 - b = 300$ , it follows that $a = 150 - \lambda$ and $c = 150 + \lambda$ for some integer $\lambda$ . Substituting yields $(150-\lambda)(150+\lambda) = 144^2$ , which expands and rearranges to $\lambda^2 = 150^2-144^2 = 42^2$ . Since $\lambda > 0$ , we must have $\lambda = 42$ , and so $a = 150 - \lambda = \boxed{108}$ .

Solution 4

Bashing is not difficult. All we have to consider is the first equation. We can write it as $x*(1+r+r^2) = 444$ . The variable $x$ must be an integer, and after trying all the factors of $444$ , it's clear that $r$ is a fraction smaller than $10$ . When calculating the coefficient of $x$ , we must consider that the fraction produced will very likely have a numerator that divides $444$ . Trying a couple will make it easier to find the fraction, and soon you will find that $\frac{4}{3}$ gives a numerator of $37$ , a rather specific factor of $444$ . Solving for the rest will give you an integer value of $\boxed{108}$ . This is by no means a good solution, but it may be faster in a competition if you don't want to mess with several other equations. This is purely up to different individuals.

Solution 5

Let $b$ be the finish number of Betty's peanuts. Then $3b = 444-(5 + 9 + 25) = 405 = 3 \cdot 135 \implies b = 135, b+ 9 = 144.$

Let $k > 1$ be the common ratio. Then $\frac{144}{k} + 144 + k \cdot 144 = 444 \implies \frac{144}{k} + k \cdot 144 = 300\implies \frac{12}{k} + k \cdot 12 = 25\implies k = \frac{4}{3} \implies \frac {144\cdot 3}{4} = \boxed {108}.$

vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Solution 1==
 Let <math>r</math> be the common ratio, where <math>r>1</math>. We then have <math>ar-9-(a-5)=a(r-1)-4=ar^{2}-25-(ar-9)=ar(r-1)-16</math>. We now have, letting, subtracting the 2 equations, <math>ar^{2}+-2ar+a=12</math>, so we have <math>3ar=432,</math> or <math>ar=144</math>, which is how much Betty had. Now we have <math>144+\dfrac{144}{r}+144r=444</math>, or <math>144(r+\dfrac{1}{r})=300</math>, or <math>r+\dfrac{1}{r}=\dfrac{25}{12}</math>, which solving for <math>r</math> gives <math>r=\dfrac{4}{3}</math>, since <math>r>1</math>, so Alex had <math>\dfrac{3}{4} \cdot 144=\boxed{108}</math> peanuts.
-Solution by Shaddoll
 == Solution 2 (Quadratic Formula)==
@@ Line 15: / Line 13: @@
 <cmath>(k-1)^2=\frac{12}{a}</cmath>
+<cmath>(k+1)^2-(k-1)^2=4k \implies 4k=\frac{444-12}{a}+k \implies k=\frac{144}{a}</cmath>
-<math>(k+1)^2-(k-1)^2=4k</math>, so <math>4k=\frac{444-20}{a}</math>. Then, <math>k=\frac{432}{3a}=\frac{432}{a}=\frac{144}{a}</math>. Substitute k in <math>(k-1)^2=\frac{12}{a}</math> to get <math>(\frac{144-a}{a})^2=\frac{12}{a}</math>. Simplifying, expanding, and applying the quadratic formula,
-<cmath>a=150\pm\frac{\sqrt{300^2-4(144^2)}{2}</cmath>
+Substitute <math>k</math> in the second equation to get <math>(\frac{144-a}{a})^2=\frac{12}{a}</math>. Expanding and applying the quadratic formula,
+<cmath>a=150\pm\frac{\sqrt{300^2-4(144^2)}}{2}</cmath>
 Taking out <math>4^2\cdot3^2</math> from under the radical leaves
 <cmath>a=150\pm6\sqrt{625-576}=108, 192</cmath>
-Since Alex's peanut number was the lowest of the trio, and <math>3*192>444</math>, Alex initially had \boxed{108} peanutes.
+Since Alex's peanut number was the lowest of the trio, and <math>3*192>444</math>, Alex initially had <math>\boxed{108}</math> peanuts.
-(Solution by BJHHar)
 == Solution 3 ==
@@ Line 39: / Line 35: @@
 Substituting yields <math>(150-\lambda)(150+\lambda) = 144^2</math>, which expands and rearranges to <math>\lambda^2 = 150^2-144^2 = 42^2</math>.
 Since <math>\lambda > 0</math>, we must have <math>\lambda = 42</math>, and so <math>a = 150 - \lambda = \boxed{108}</math>.
+== Solution 4==
+Bashing is not difficult. All we have to consider is the first equation. We can write it as <math>x*(1+r+r^2) = 444</math>. The variable <math>x</math> must be an integer, and after trying all the factors of <math>444</math>, it's clear that <math>r</math> is a fraction smaller than <math>10</math>. When calculating the coefficient of <math>x</math>, we must consider that the fraction produced will very likely have a numerator that divides <math>444</math>. Trying a couple will make it easier to find the fraction, and soon you will find that <math>\frac{4}{3}</math> gives a numerator of <math>37</math>, a rather specific factor of <math>444</math>. Solving for the rest will give you an integer value of <math>\boxed{108}</math>. This is by no means a good solution, but it may be faster in a competition if you don't want to mess with several other equations. This is purely up to different individuals.
+==Solution 5==
+Let <math>b</math> be the finish number of Betty's peanuts. Then
+<cmath>3b = 444-(5 + 9 + 25) = 405 = 3 \cdot 135 \implies b = 135, b+ 9 = 144.</cmath>
+Let <math>k > 1</math> be the common ratio. Then <cmath>\frac{144}{k} + 144 + k \cdot 144 = 444 \implies \frac{144}{k} + k \cdot 144 = 300\implies  \frac{12}{k} + k \cdot 12 = 25\implies k = \frac{4}{3} \implies \frac {144\cdot 3}{4} = \boxed {108}.</cmath>
+'''vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss'''
 == See also ==
 {{AIME box|year=2016|n=II|before=First Problem|num-a=2}}
+{{MAA Notice}}

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