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Difference between revisions of "2008 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 16"
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==Problem==  
 
==Problem==  
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The numbers <math>\log(a^3b^7)</math>, <math>\log(a^5b^{12})</math>, and <math>\log(a^8b^{15})</math> are the first three terms of an arithmetic sequence, and the <math>12^\text{th}</math> term of the sequence is <math>\log{b^n}</math>. What is <math>n</math>?
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The numbers <math>\log(a^3b^7)</math>, <math>\log(a^5b^{12})</math>, and <math>\log(a^8b^{15})</math> are the first three terms of an [[arithmetic sequence]], and the <math>12^\text{th}</math> term of the sequence is <math>\log{b^n}</math>. What is <math>n</math>?
  
 
<math>\textbf{(A)}\ 40 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 56 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 76 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 112 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 143</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A)}\ 40 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 56 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 76 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 112 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 143</math>
  
 
==Solution==  
 
==Solution==  
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===Solution 1===
 
Let <math>A = \log(a)</math> and <math>B = \log(b)</math>.  
 
Let <math>A = \log(a)</math> and <math>B = \log(b)</math>.  
  
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Thus the <math>12^\text{th}</math> term is <math>(9\cdot12 + 4)B = 112B = nB \Rightarrow n = 112\Rightarrow D</math>.  
 
Thus the <math>12^\text{th}</math> term is <math>(9\cdot12 + 4)B = 112B = nB \Rightarrow n = 112\Rightarrow D</math>.  
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===Solution 2===
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If <math>\log(a^3b^7)</math>, <math>\log(a^5b^{12})</math>, and <math>\log(a^8b^{15})</math> are in [[arithmetic progression]], then <math>a^3b^7</math>, <math>a^5b^{12}</math>, and <math>a^8b^{15}</math> are in [[geometric progression]]. Therefore,
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<cmath>a^2b^5=a^3b^3 \Rightarrow a=b^2</cmath>
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Therefore, <math>a^3b^7=b^{13}</math>, <math>a^5b^{12}=b^{22}</math>, therefore the 12th term in the sequence is <math>b^{13+9*11}=b^{112} \Rightarrow D</math>
  
 
==See Also==  
 
==See Also==  
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2008|ab=A|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2008|ab=A|num-b=15|num-a=17}}

Revision as of 10:15, 26 February 2008

Problem

The numbers $\log(a^3b^7)$, $\log(a^5b^{12})$, and $\log(a^8b^{15})$ are the first three terms of an arithmetic sequence, and the $12^\text{th}$ term of the sequence is $\log{b^n}$. What is $n$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 40 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 56 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 76 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 112 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 143$

Solution

Solution 1

Let $A = \log(a)$ and $B = \log(b)$.

The first three terms of the arithmetic sequence are $3A + 7B$, $5A + 12B$, and $8A + 15B$, and the $12^\text{th}$ term is $nB$.

Thus, $2(5A + 12B) = (3A + 7B) + (8A + 15B) \Rightarrow A = 2B$.

Since the first three terms in the sequence are $13B$, $22B$, and $31B$, the $k$th term is $(9k + 4)B$.

Thus the $12^\text{th}$ term is $(9\cdot12 + 4)B = 112B = nB \Rightarrow n = 112\Rightarrow D$.

Solution 2

If $\log(a^3b^7)$, $\log(a^5b^{12})$, and $\log(a^8b^{15})$ are in arithmetic progression, then $a^3b^7$, $a^5b^{12}$, and $a^8b^{15}$ are in geometric progression. Therefore,

\[a^2b^5=a^3b^3 \Rightarrow a=b^2\]

Therefore, $a^3b^7=b^{13}$, $a^5b^{12}=b^{22}$, therefore the 12th term in the sequence is $b^{13+9*11}=b^{112} \Rightarrow D$

See Also

2008 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 15 		Followed by
Problem 17
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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