1993 AJHSME Problems/Problem 24
Problem
What number is directly above in this array of numbers?
\[\begin{tabular}{cccccc}& & & 1 & &\\ & & 2 & 3 & 4 &\\ & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 & 9\\ 10 & 11 & 12 &\cdots & &\\ \end{tabular}\] (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)
Solution
Solution 1
Notice that a number in row is
less than the number directly below it. For example,
, which is in row
, is
less than the number below it,
.
From row 1 to row , there are
numbers in those
rows. Because there are
numbers up to the 12th row,
is in the
row. The number directly above is in the 11th row, and is
less than
. Thus the number directly above
is
.
Solution 2
Writing a couple more rows, the last number in each row ends in a perfect square. Thus is two left from the last number in its row,
. One left and one up from
is the last number of its row, also a perfect square, and is
. This is one right and one up from
, so the number directly above
is one less than
, or
.
See Also
1993 AJHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 23 |
Followed by Problem 25 | |
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 | ||
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