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 "2002 AIME I Problems/Problem 14"

(→‎Solution)
Line 11: Line 11:
  
 
[[Category:Intermediate Number Theory Problems]]
 
[[Category:Intermediate Number Theory Problems]]
 +
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 18:56, 4 July 2013

Problem

A set $\mathcal{S}$ of distinct positive integers has the following property: for every integer $x$ in $\mathcal{S},$ the arithmetic mean of the set of values obtained by deleting $x$ from $\mathcal{S}$ is an integer. Given that 1 belongs to $\mathcal{S}$ and that 2002 is the largest element of $\mathcal{S},$ what is the greatet number of elements that $\mathcal{S}$ can have?

Solution

Let the sum of the integers in $\mathcal{S}$ be $N$, and let the size of $|\mathcal{S}|$ be $n+1$. After any element $x$ is removed, we are given that $n|N-x$, so $x\equiv N\pmod{n}$. Since $1\in\mathcal{S}$, $N\equiv1\pmod{n}$, and all elements are congruent to 1 mod $n$. Since they are positive integers, the largest element is at least $n^2+1$, the $(n+1)$th positive integer congruent to 1 mod $n$.

We are also given that this largest member is 2002, so $2002\equiv1\pmod{n}$, and $n|2001=3\cdot23\cdot29$. Also, we have $n^2+1\le2002$, so $n<45$. The largest factor of 2001 less than 45 is 29, so $n=29$ and $n+1=\fbox{30}$ is the largest possible. This can be achieved with $\mathcal{S}=\{1,30,59,88,\ldots,813,2002\}$, for instance.

See also

2002 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 13 		Followed by
Problem 15
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME 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=2002_AIME_I_Problems/Problem_14&oldid=55151"