Difference between revisions of "1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 30"

(Created page with "== Problem == Find the units digit of the decimal expansion of <cmath>\left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{19} + \left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{82}.</cmath> <math>\textbf{(A)}\ 0\qqu...")
 
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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Let <math>A=15+\sqrt{220}</math> and <math>B=15-\sqrt{220}.</math> Note that <math>A^{19}+B^{19}</math> and <math>A^{82}+B^{82}</math> are both integers: When we expand (Binomial Theorem) and combine like terms for each expression, the rational terms are added and the irrational terms are canceled. We have
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<cmath>\begin{align*}
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A^{19}+B^{19} &= \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots+\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] + \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0-\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots-\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] \\
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&= 2\left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{2}15^{17}\sqrt{220}^2+\cdots+\binom{19}{18}15^1\sqrt{220}^{18}\right].
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\end{align*}</cmath>
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
{{AHSME box|year=1982|num-b=29|after=Last Problem}}
 
{{AHSME box|year=1982|num-b=29|after=Last Problem}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 22:35, 11 September 2021

Problem

Find the units digit of the decimal expansion of \[\left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{19} + \left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{82}.\]

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0\qquad  \textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad  \textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad  \textbf{(D)}\ 9\qquad  \textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Solution

Let $A=15+\sqrt{220}$ and $B=15-\sqrt{220}.$ Note that $A^{19}+B^{19}$ and $A^{82}+B^{82}$ are both integers: When we expand (Binomial Theorem) and combine like terms for each expression, the rational terms are added and the irrational terms are canceled. We have \begin{align*} A^{19}+B^{19} &= \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots+\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] + \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0-\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots-\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] \\ &= 2\left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{2}15^{17}\sqrt{220}^2+\cdots+\binom{19}{18}15^1\sqrt{220}^{18}\right]. \end{align*}

See Also

1982 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 29
Followed by
Last Problem
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