Difference between revisions of "1985 AJHSME Problems/Problem 1"

Problem

$\frac{3\times 5}{9\times 11}\times \frac{7\times 9\times 11}{3\times 5\times 7}=$

$\text{(A)}\ 1 \qquad \text{(B)}\ 0 \qquad \text{(C)}\ 49 \qquad \text{(D)}\ \frac{1}{49} \qquad \text{(E)}\ 50$

Solutions

Solution 1

Noticing that multiplying and dividing by the same number is the equivalent of multiplying (or dividing) by $1$, we can rearrange the numbers in the numerator and the denominator (commutative property of multiplication) so that it looks like $$\frac{3}{3} \times \frac{5}{5} \times \frac{7}{7} \times \frac{9}{9} \times \frac{11}{11}.$$

Notice that each number is still there, and nothing has been changed - other than the order.

Finally, since all of the fractions are equal to one, we have $1\times1\times1\times1\times1$, which is equal to $1$.

Thus, $\boxed{\text{(A)}\ 1}$ is the answer.

Solution 2 (Brute force)

If you want to multiply it out, then it would be $$\frac{15}{99} \times \frac{693}{105}.$$

That would be $$\frac{10395}{10395},$$ which is 1. Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{\text{(A)}\ 1}$.