2024 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 23

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The following problem is from both the 2024 AMC 10B #23 and 2024 AMC 12B #18, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

The Fibonacci numbers are defined by $F_1 = 1, F_2 = 1,$ and $F_n = F_{n-1} + F_{n-2}$ for $n \geq 3.$ What is \[{\frac{F_2}{F_1}} + {\frac{F_4}{F_2}} + {\frac{F_6}{F_3}} + ... + {\frac{F_{20}}{F_{10}}}?\] $\textbf{(A) } 318 \qquad\textbf{(B) } 319 \qquad\textbf{(C) } 320 \qquad\textbf{(D) } 321 \qquad\textbf{(E) } 322$

Solution 1

The first $20$ terms $F_n = 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765$

so the answer is $1 +  3 + 4 + 7 + 11 + 18 + 29 + 47 + 76 + 123 =  \boxed{(B) 319}$.

~luckuso

Solution 2

Plug in a few numbers to see if there is a pattern. List out a few Fibonacci numbers, and then try them on the equation. You'll find that ${\frac{F_2}{F_1}} = {\frac{1}{1}} = 1, {\frac{F_4}{F_2}} = {\frac{3}{1}} = 3, {\frac{F_6}{F_3}} = {\frac{8}{2}} = 4,$ and ${\frac{F_8}{F_4}} = {\frac{21}{3}} = 7.$ The pattern is that then ten fractions are in their own Fibonacci sequence with the starting two terms being $1$ and $3$, which can be written as $G_1 = 1, G_2 = 3, G_n = G_{n-1} + G_{n-2}$ for $n \geq 3.$ The problem is asking for the sum of the ten terms $G_1 + G_2 + G_3 + ... + G_{10}$, and you arrive at the solution $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }319}.$

~Cattycute

Solution 3

Define new sequence \[G_n = \frac{F_{2n}}{F_{n}} = \frac{A^{2n} - B^{2n}}{A^{n} - B^{n}} =A^n+B^n\]

A= $\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$ and B = $\frac{1-\sqrt{5}}{2}$

Per characteristic equation, $G_n$ itself is also Fibonacci type sequence with starting item $G_{1}=1 , G_{2}=3$

then we can calculate the first 10 items using $G_{n}  =G_{n-1}  + G_{n-2}$

so the answer is $1 + 3 + 4 + 7 + 11 + 18 + 29 + 47 + 76 + 123 =  \boxed{(B) 319}$.

~luckuso

Solution 4

Remember that for any $n\ge0$, \[\frac{F_{2n}}{F_{n}} = L_{n}\]

Therefore, the problem can be expressed as the sum of the first 10 Lucas numbers, starting at 1,

making the answer $1 + 3 + 4 + 7 + 11 + 18 + 29 + 47 + 76 + 123 = \boxed{(B) 319}$.

~Apollo08 (first solution)

See also

2024 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
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
2024 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 17
Followed by
Problem 19
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 12 Problems and Solutions

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