Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 17"

m (→‎Solution 2)
m (minor edit)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
Define<cmath>P(x) =(x-1^2)(x-2^2)\cdots(x-100^2).</cmath>How many integers <math>n</math> are there such that <math>P(n)\leq 0</math>?
+
== Problem ==
 +
Define <cmath>P(x) =(x-1^2)(x-2^2)\cdots(x-100^2).</cmath> How many integers <math>n</math> are there such that <math>P(n)\leq 0</math>?
  
 
<math>\textbf{(A) } 4900 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4950\qquad \textbf{(C) } 5000\qquad \textbf{(D) } 5050 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 5100</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) } 4900 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4950\qquad \textbf{(C) } 5000\qquad \textbf{(D) } 5050 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 5100</math>
  
−
==Solution 1==
+
== Solutions ==
−
 
+
=== Solution 1 ===
 
Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is a product of many integers. We either need one factor to be 0 or an odd number of negative factors.
 
Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is a product of many integers. We either need one factor to be 0 or an odd number of negative factors.
−
 
−
 
  
 
Case 1: There are 100 integers <math>n</math> for which <math>P(x)=0</math>
 
Case 1: There are 100 integers <math>n</math> for which <math>P(x)=0</math>
−
 
−
 
  
 
Case 2: For there to be an odd number of negative factors, <math>n</math> must be between an odd number squared and an even number squared. This means that there are <math>2+6+\dots+198</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. Simplifying, there are <math>5000</math> possible numbers.
 
Case 2: For there to be an odd number of negative factors, <math>n</math> must be between an odd number squared and an even number squared. This means that there are <math>2+6+\dots+198</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. Simplifying, there are <math>5000</math> possible numbers.
Line 17: Line 14:
 
Summing, there are <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. ~PCChess
 
Summing, there are <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. ~PCChess
  
−
==Solution 2==
+
=== Solution 2 ===
−
 
 
 
Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is nonpositive when <math>x</math> is between <math>100^2</math> and <math>99^2</math>, <math>98^2</math> and <math>97^2 \ldots</math> , <math>2^2</math> and <math>1^2</math> (inclusive), which means that the amount of values equals <math>((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)</math>.
 
Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is nonpositive when <math>x</math> is between <math>100^2</math> and <math>99^2</math>, <math>98^2</math> and <math>97^2 \ldots</math> , <math>2^2</math> and <math>1^2</math> (inclusive), which means that the amount of values equals <math>((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)</math>.
  
Line 25: Line 21:
 
~Zeric
 
~Zeric
  
−
==Solution 3 (end behavior)==
+
=== Solution 3 (end behavior) ===
  
 
We know that <math>P(x)</math> is a <math>100</math>-degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, <math>P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}</math>.
 
We know that <math>P(x)</math> is a <math>100</math>-degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, <math>P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}</math>.
Line 43: Line 39:
 
<math>(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)</math>. Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88
 
<math>(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)</math>. Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88
  
−
==Video Solution==
+
=== Video Solution ===
 
https://youtu.be/RKlG6oZq9so
 
https://youtu.be/RKlG6oZq9so
  
 
~IceMatrix
 
~IceMatrix
  
−
==See Also==
+
== See Also ==
−
 
 
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2020|ab=A|num-b=16|num-a=18}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2020|ab=A|num-b=16|num-a=18}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 00:57, 19 October 2020

Problem

Define \[P(x) =(x-1^2)(x-2^2)\cdots(x-100^2).\] How many integers $n$ are there such that $P(n)\leq 0$?

$\textbf{(A) } 4900 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4950\qquad \textbf{(C) } 5000\qquad \textbf{(D) } 5050 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 5100$

Solutions

Solution 1

Notice that $P(x)$ is a product of many integers. We either need one factor to be 0 or an odd number of negative factors.

Case 1: There are 100 integers $n$ for which $P(x)=0$

Case 2: For there to be an odd number of negative factors, $n$ must be between an odd number squared and an even number squared. This means that there are $2+6+\dots+198$ total possible values of $n$. Simplifying, there are $5000$ possible numbers.

Summing, there are $\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}$ total possible values of $n$. ~PCChess

Solution 2

Notice that $P(x)$ is nonpositive when $x$ is between $100^2$ and $99^2$, $98^2$ and $97^2 \ldots$ , $2^2$ and $1^2$ (inclusive), which means that the amount of values equals $((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)$.

This reduces to $200 + 196 + 192 + \ldots + 4 = 4(1+2+\ldots + 50) = 4 \cdot\frac{50 \cdot 51}{2} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}$

~Zeric

Solution 3 (end behavior)

We know that $P(x)$ is a $100$-degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, $P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}$.

Since the degree of $P(x)$ is even, its end behaviors match. And since the leading coefficient is positive, we know that both ends approach $\infty$ as $x$ goes in either direction.

\[\lim_{x\to-\infty} P(x)=\lim_{x\to\infty} P(x)=\infty\]

So the first time $P(x)$ is going to be negative is when it intersects the $x$-axis at an $x$-intercept and it's going to dip below. This happens at $1^2$, which is the smallest intercept.

However, when it hits the next intercept, it's going to go back up again into positive territory, we know this happens at $2^2$. And when it hits $3^2$, it's going to dip back into negative territory. Clearly, this is going to continue to snake around the intercepts until $100^2$.

To get the amount of integers below and/or on the $x$-axis, we simply need to count the integers. For example, the amount of integers in between the $[1^2,2^2]$ interval we got earlier, we subtract and add one. $(2^2-1^2+1)=4$ integers, so there are four integers in this interval that produce a negative result.

Doing this with all of the other intervals, we have

$(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)$. Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/RKlG6oZq9so

~IceMatrix

See Also

2020 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 16 		Followed by
Problem 18
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

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2020_AMC_10A_Problems/Problem_17&oldid=135355"