2011 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 17

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Problem

Let $f(x) = 10^{10x}, g(x) = \log_{10}\left(\frac{x}{10}\right), h_1(x) = g(f(x))$, and $h_n(x) = h_1(h_{n-1}(x))$ for integers $n \geq 2$. What is the sum of the digits of $h_{2011}(1)$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 16081 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 16089 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 18089 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 18098 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 18099$

Solution

$g(x)=\log_{10}\left(\frac{x}{10}\right)=\log_{10}\left({x}\right) - 1$

$h_{1}(x)=g(f(x))\text{ = }g(10^{10x}=\log_{10}\left({10^{10x}}\right){ - 1 = 10x - 1}$

Proof by induction that $h_{n}(x)\text{ = }10^n x - (1 + 10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{n-1})$:

For $n=1$, $h_{1}(x)=10x - 1$

Assume $h_{n}(x)=10^n x - (1 + 10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{n-1})$ is true for n:

\begin{align*} h_{n+1}(x)&= h_{1}(h_{n}(x))\\ &=10 h_{n}(x) - 1\\ &=10 (10^n x   - (1 + 10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{n-1})) - 1\\ &= 10^{n+1} x - (10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{n}) - 1\\ &= 10^{n+1} x - (1 + 10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{(n+1)-1}) \end{align*}

Therefore, if it is true for n, then it is true for n+1; since it is also true for n = 1, it is true for all positive integers n.

$h_{2011}(1) = 10^{2011}\times 1{ - }(1 + 10 + 10^2 + ... + 10^{2010})$, which is the 2011-digit number 8888...8889

The sum of the digits is 8 times 2010 plus 9, or $\boxed{16089\textbf{(B)}}$

Solution 2 (Non-Rigorous Trends)

As before, combine the functions to see that $h_1(x)=10x-1$. Compute $h_1$, $h_2$, and $h_3$ for $x=1$ to yield 9, 89, and 889. In computing, notice how this trend will evidently continue, because it repeats (multiply by 10 and subtract 1. Multiply by 10 and subtract 1. And so forth). As such, $h_2011$ is 2010 8's followed by a nine. $2010(8)+9=\boxed{\textbf{B)}16089}$.

~~BJHHar


See also

2011 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 16
Followed by
Problem 18
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All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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