2023 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 23

Problem

If the positive integer $c$ has positive integer divisors $a$ and $b$ with $c = ab$ , then $a$ and $b$ are said to be $\textit{complementary}$ divisors of $c$ . Suppose that $N$ is a positive integer that has one complementary pair of divisors that differ by $20$ and another pair of complementary divisors that differ by $23$ . What is the sum of the digits of $N$ ?

$\textbf{(A) } 9 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 13\qquad \textbf{(C) } 15 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 17 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 19$

Solution 1

Consider positive $a, b$ with a difference of $20$ . Suppose $b = a-20$ . Then, we have that $(a)(a-20) = c$ . If there is another pair of two integers that multiply to 30 but have a difference of 23, one integer must be greater than $a$ , and one must be smaller than $a-20$ . We can create two cases and set both equal. We have $(a)(a-20) = (a+1)(a-22)$ , and $(a)(a-20) = (a+2)(a-21)$ . Starting with the first case, we have $a^2-20a = a^2-21a-22$ ,or $0=-a-22$ , which gives $a=-22$ , which is not possible. The other case is $a^2-20a = a^2-19a-42$ , so $a=42$ . Thus, our product is $(42)(22) = (44)(21)$ , so $c = 924$ . Adding the digits, we have $9+2+4 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) } 15}$ . -Sepehr2010

Solution 2

We have 4 integers in our problem. Let's call the smallest of them $a$ . $a(a+23) =$ either $(a+1)(a+21)$ or $(a+2)(a+22)$ . So, we have the following:

$a^2 + 23a = a^2 + 22a +21$ or

$a^2+23a = a^2 + 24a +44$ .

The second equation has negative solutions, so we discard it. The first equation has $a = 21$ , and so $a + 23 = 44$ . If we check $(a+1)(a+21)$ we get $22 \cdot 42 = 21 \cdot 44$ . $44$ is $2$ times $22$ , and $42$ is $2$ times $21$ , so our solution checks out. Multiplying $21$ by $44$ , we get $924$ => $9 + 2 + 4 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) 15}}$ .

~Arcticturn

Solution 3

From the problems, it follows that

$\begin{align*} x(x+20)&=y(y+23) = N\\ x^2+20x&=y^2+23y\\ 4x^2+4\cdot20x &= 4y^2+4\cdot23y\\ 4x^2+4\cdot20x+20^2-20^2 &= 4y^2+4\cdot23y+23^3-23^2\\ (2x+20)^2-20^2 &= (2y+23)^2-23^2\\ 23^2-20^2 &= (2y+23)^2-(2x+20)^2\\ (23+20)(23-20) &= (2y+23+2x+20)(2y+23-2x-20)\\ 43\cdot 3 &= (2y+2x+43)(2y-2x+3)\\ 129\cdot 1 &= (2y+2x+43)(2y-2x+3)\\ \end{align*}$ Since both $(2y+2x+43)$ and $(2y-2x+3)$ must be integer, we get two equations. $\begin{align} 129 or 43 &= (2y+2x+43)\\ 1 or 3&= 2y-2x+3\\ \end{align}$ 43 & 1 yields (0,0) which is not what we want. 129 & 1 yields (22,21) which is more interesting.

Simplifying the equations, we get: $\begin{align*} x+y &= 43\\ x-y &= 1\\ x=22&, y=21\\ N &= (22)(22+20) = 924. \end{align*}$

So, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C) 15}}$ .

~Technodoggo

Solution 4

Say one factorization is $n(n+23).$ The two cases for the other factorization are $(n+1)(n+21)$ and $(n+2)(n+22).$ We know it must be the first because of AM-GM intuition: lesser factors are closer together. Thus, $n(n+23)=(n+1)(n+21)$ and we find that $n=21,c=924$ meaning the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C) }15}.$

~DouDragon

Solution 5

Since we are given that some pairs of divisors differ by 20 and 23 and we can let the pair be $(x-10) and$ (x+10) as well as $(y- \frac{23}{2}) and$ (y+ \frac{23}{2}). We also know the product of both the complementary divisors give the same number so $(x-10)(x+10)=(y-\frac{23}{2})(y+\frac{23}{2})$ . Now we let $y=\frac{a}{2}$ . Then we substitute and get $x^2-100=\frac{(a^2-529)}{4}$ . Finally we multiply by 4 and get $4x^2-a^2=-129, a^2-4x^2=129$ . Then we use differences of squares and get $a$ + $2x$ =129, $a$ - $2x$ =1. We finish by getting $a=$ 65 and $x=32$ . So $(42)(22) = 924$ Adding the digits, we have $9+2+4 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) } 15}$ .

~averageguy

Solution

$N$ can be written $N = \left( a - 10 \right) \left( a + 10 \right)$ with a positive integer $a > 10$ and $N = \left( \frac{2b + 1}{2} - \frac{23}{2} \right) \left( \frac{2b + 1}{2} + \frac{23}{2} \right)$ with a positive integer $b > 11$ .

The above equations can be reorganized as $\left( 2b + 1 + 2 a \right) \left( 2 b + 1 - 2 a \right) = 43 \cdot 3 .$

The only solution is $2b + 1 + 2a = 129$ and $2b + 1 - 2a = 1$ . Thus, $a = b = 32$ . Therefore, $N = 924$ . So the sum of the digits of $N$ is $9 + 2 + 4 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) 15}}$ .

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/D_T24PrVk18

2023 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 22	Followed by Problem 24
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