2003 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 23
Contents
[hide]Problem
A large equilateral triangle is constructed by using toothpicks to create rows of small equilateral triangles. For example, in the figure, we have rows of small congruent equilateral triangles, with
small triangles in the base row. How many toothpicks would be needed to construct a large equilateral triangle if the base row of the triangle consists of
small equilateral triangles?
Solution
Solution 1
There are small equilateral triangles.
Each small equilateral triangle needs toothpicks to make it.
But, each toothpick that isn't one of the toothpicks on the outside of the large equilateral triangle is a side for
small equilateral triangles.
So, the number of toothpicks on the inside of the large equilateral triangle is
Therefore the total number of toothpicks is
~dolphin7
Solution 2
The first row of triangles has upward-facing triangle, the second row has
upward-facing triangles, the third row has
upward-facing triangles, and so on having
upward-facing triangles in the
row. The last row with
small triangles has
upward-facing triangles. By Gauss's formula, the number of the upward-facing triangles in the entire triangle are now
, meaning that the number of toothpicks are
, or
.
~mathpro12345
Note
You don't have to calculate the value of , and you can use units digits to find the answer easily. The units digit of
is
, and has a unit digit of
after being divided by
. Then this is multiplied by
, now the final number ending with a
. This leaves only one answer choice possible, which is
See Also
2003 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 22 |
Followed by Problem 24 | |
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 | ||
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions |
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