Difference between revisions of "2011 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 10"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
  
The sum of the other ten elements is the same as ten <math>1</math>s. <math>10^{10}</math> is the same as <math>1</math> followed by ten <math>0</math>s. If you subtract one, it is equal to ten <math>9</math>s. Therefore if you divide the sum of the other ten elements by the largest element, it is closest to <math>\boxed{\mathrm{(B) \ } 9}</math>
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The requested ratio is <cmath>\dfrac{10^{10}}{10^9 + 10^8 + \ldots + 10 + 1}.</cmath> Using the formula for a geometric series, we have <cmath>10^9 + 10^8 + \ldots + 10 + 1 = \dfrac{10^{10} - 1}{10 - 1} = \dfrac{10^{10} - 1}{9},</cmath> which is very close to <math>\dfrac{10^{10}}{9},</math> so the ratio is very close to <math>\boxed{\mathrm{(B) \ } 9}.</math>
  
 
== See Also==
 
== See Also==

Revision as of 16:08, 28 January 2014

Problem

Consider the set of numbers $\{1, 10, 10^2, 10^3, \ldots, 10^{10}\}$. The ratio of the largest element of the set to the sum of the other ten elements of the set is closest to which integer?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 9 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 11 \qquad\textbf{(E)} 101$

Solution

The requested ratio is \[\dfrac{10^{10}}{10^9 + 10^8 + \ldots + 10 + 1}.\] Using the formula for a geometric series, we have \[10^9 + 10^8 + \ldots + 10 + 1 = \dfrac{10^{10} - 1}{10 - 1} = \dfrac{10^{10} - 1}{9},\] which is very close to $\dfrac{10^{10}}{9},$ so the ratio is very close to $\boxed{\mathrm{(B) \ } 9}.$

See Also

2011 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
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

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