Difference between revisions of "2016 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 21"
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<cmath>\frac{1}{2} \sum\limits_{n=2}^\infty \frac{1}{n(n+1)}</cmath> | <cmath>\frac{1}{2} \sum\limits_{n=2}^\infty \frac{1}{n(n+1)}</cmath> | ||
or | or | ||
− | <cmath>\frac{1}{2} \sum\limits_{n=2}^\infty \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n+1} | + | <cmath>\frac{1}{2} \sum\limits_{n=2}^\infty \left(\frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n+1}\right)</cmath> |
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+ | This is known as a telescoping series because we can see that every term after the first <math>\frac{1}{n}</math> is going to cancel out. Thus, the summation is equal to <math>\frac{1}{2}</math> and after multiplying by the half out in front, we find that the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) }\frac{1}{4}}</math>. | ||
==Solution 2== | ==Solution 2== |
Revision as of 10:53, 3 February 2019
Let be a unit square. Let be the midpoint of . For let be the intersection of and , and let be the foot of the perpendicular from to . What is
Solution
(By Qwertazertl)
We are tasked with finding the sum of the areas of every where is a positive integer. We can start by finding the area of the first triangle, . This is equal to ⋅ ⋅ . Notice that since triangle is similar to triangle in a 1 : 2 ratio, must equal (since we are dealing with a unit square whose side lengths are 1). is of course equal to as it is the mid-point of CD. Thus, the area of the first triangle is ⋅ ⋅ .
The second triangle has a base equal to that of (see that ~ ) and using the same similar triangle logic as with the first triangle, we find the area to be ⋅ ⋅ . If we continue and test the next few triangles, we will find that the sum of all is equal to
or
This is known as a telescoping series because we can see that every term after the first is going to cancel out. Thus, the summation is equal to and after multiplying by the half out in front, we find that the answer is .
Solution 2
(By mastermind.hk16)
Note that . So
Hence
We compute because as .
See Also
2016 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 20 |
Followed by Problem 22 |
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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