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Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 4"

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\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ n > 84</math>
 
\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ n > 84</math>
  
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== Solution ==
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== Solution 1==
 
Since <math>\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17  = \frac {41}{42}</math>,
 
Since <math>\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17  = \frac {41}{42}</math>,
  
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From which it follows that <math>\frac{41}{42} + \frac 1n = 1</math> and <math>n = 42</math>. The only answer choice that is not true is <math>\boxed{\mathrm{(E)}\ n>84}</math>.
 
From which it follows that <math>\frac{41}{42} + \frac 1n = 1</math> and <math>n = 42</math>. The only answer choice that is not true is <math>\boxed{\mathrm{(E)}\ n>84}</math>.
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 +
== Solution 2 (no limits)==
 +
Since <math>\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17  = \frac {41}{42}</math>, it is very clear that <math>n=42</math> makes the expression an integer. Because <math>n</math> is a positive integer, <math>\frac{1}{n}</math> must be less than or equal to <math>1</math> and greater than <math>\frac{41}{42}</math>. Thus the only integer the expression can take is <math>1</math>, making the only value for <math>n</math> <math>42</math>. Thus <math>\boxed{\mathrm{(E)}\ n>84}</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 17:26, 19 August 2020

The following problem is from both the 2002 AMC 12B #4 and 2002 AMC 10B #7, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Let $n$ be a positive integer such that $\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17 + \frac 1n$ is an integer. Which of the following statements is not true:

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 2\ \text{divides\ }n \qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 3\ \text{divides\ }n \qquad\mathrm{(C)}$ $\ 6\ \text{divides\ }n \qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 7\ \text{divides\ }n \qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ n > 84$

Solution 1

Since $\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17 = \frac {41}{42}$,

\[0 < \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left(\frac{41}{42} + \frac{1}{n}\right) < \frac {41}{42} + \frac 1n < \frac{41}{42} + \frac 11 < 2\]

From which it follows that $\frac{41}{42} + \frac 1n = 1$ and $n = 42$. The only answer choice that is not true is $\boxed{\mathrm{(E)}\ n>84}$.

Solution 2 (no limits)

Since $\frac 12 + \frac 13 + \frac 17 = \frac {41}{42}$, it is very clear that $n=42$ makes the expression an integer. Because $n$ is a positive integer, $\frac{1}{n}$ must be less than or equal to $1$ and greater than $\frac{41}{42}$. Thus the only integer the expression can take is $1$, making the only value for $n$ $42$. Thus $\boxed{\mathrm{(E)}\ n>84}$

See also

2002 AMC 10B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 6 		Followed by
Problem 8
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
2002 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
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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