2020 AIME I Problems/Problem 8
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Problem
Solution 1 (Coordinates)
We plot this on the coordinate grid with point as the origin. We will keep a tally of the x-coordinate and y-coordinate separately.
First move: The ant moves right . Second move: We use properties of a triangle to get right, up. Third move: left, up. Fourth move: left. Fifth move: left, down. Sixth move: right, down.
Total of x-coordinate: . Total of y-coordinate: .
After this cycle of six moves, all moves repeat with a factor of . Using the formula for a geometric series, multiplying each sequence by will give us the point .
, . Therefore, the coordinates of point are , so using the Pythagorean Theorem, , for an answer of .
See Also
2020 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 7 |
Followed by Problem 9 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
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