Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 12P Problems/Problem 2"

(Solution)
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
If <math>\log_{b} 729 = n</math>, then <math>b^n = 729</math>. Since <math>729 = 3^6</math>, <math>b</math> must be <math>3</math> to some [[factor]] of 6. Thus, there are four (3, 9, 27, 729) possible values of <math>b \Longrightarrow \boxed{\mathrm{E}}</math>.
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We can guess that the series given by the problem is periodic in some way. Starting off, <math>u_0=4</math> is given. <math>u_1=u_{0+1}=f(u_0)=f(4)=5,</math> so <math>u_1=5.</math> <math>u_1=u_{0+1}=f(u_0)=f(4)=5,</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 00:57, 30 December 2023

Problem

The function $f$ is given by the table

\[\begin{tabular}{|c||c|c|c|c|c|}  \hline   x & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\   \hline  f(x) & 4 & 1 & 3 & 5 & 2 \\  \hline \end{tabular}\]

If $u_0=4$ and $u_{n+1} = f(u_n)$ for $n \ge 0$, find $u_{2002}$

$\text{(A) }1 \qquad \text{(B) }2 \qquad \text{(C) }3 \qquad \text{(D) }4 \qquad \text{(E) }5$

Solution

We can guess that the series given by the problem is periodic in some way. Starting off, $u_0=4$ is given. $u_1=u_{0+1}=f(u_0)=f(4)=5,$ so $u_1=5.$ $u_1=u_{0+1}=f(u_0)=f(4)=5,$

See also

2002 AMC 12P (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 1
Followed by
Problem 3
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

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