Difference between revisions of "2021 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 25"

(Solution)
(Solution)
Line 5: Line 5:
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
Start off with the number x that is not divisible by 3. Multiply x by 9. Multiplying x by 9 makes f now <math>\frac{D(x)}{\sqrt[3]{x}}\frac{3}{\sqrt[3]{9}}</math> so <math>f(9x) > f(x)</math>. A property of multiples of 9 is their digits add up to multiples of 9, so the only possibility is <math>\boxed{(E) 9}</math>
+
Start off with the number x that is not divisible by 3. Multiply x by 9. Multiplying x by 9 adds a set <math>D(x)</math> divisors that are the original divisors multiply by 3 and an additional <math>D(x)</math> divisors that are the originals multiplied by 9 which end up saying that <math>D(9x) = 3D(x)</math>. Another consequence is multiplying the denominator by <math>{\sqrt[3]{9}}</math>. So f now <math>\frac{D(x)}{\sqrt[3]{x}}\frac{3}{\sqrt[3]{9}}</math> so <math>f(9x) > f(x)</math>. A property of multiples of 9 is their digits add up to multiples of 9, so the only possibility is <math>\boxed{(E) 9}</math>
 
~Lopkiloinm
 
~Lopkiloinm
  

Revision as of 15:23, 11 February 2021

Problem

Let $d(n)$ denote the number of positive integers that divide $n$, including $1$ and $n$. For example, $d(1)=1,d(2)=2,$ and $d(12)=6$. (This function is known as the divisor function.) Let\[f(n)=\frac{d(n)}{\sqrt [3]n}.\]There is a unique positive integer $N$ such that $f(N)>f(n)$ for all positive integers $n\ne N$. What is the sum of the digits of $N?$

$\textbf{(A) }5 \qquad \textbf{(B) }6 \qquad \textbf{(C) }7 \qquad \textbf{(D) }8\qquad \textbf{(E) }9$

Solution

Start off with the number x that is not divisible by 3. Multiply x by 9. Multiplying x by 9 adds a set $D(x)$ divisors that are the original divisors multiply by 3 and an additional $D(x)$ divisors that are the originals multiplied by 9 which end up saying that $D(9x) = 3D(x)$. Another consequence is multiplying the denominator by ${\sqrt[3]{9}}$. So f now $\frac{D(x)}{\sqrt[3]{x}}\frac{3}{\sqrt[3]{9}}$ so $f(9x) > f(x)$. A property of multiples of 9 is their digits add up to multiples of 9, so the only possibility is $\boxed{(E) 9}$ ~Lopkiloinm

See also

2021 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 24
Followed by
Last problem
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 12 Problems and Solutions

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