1992 AIME Problems/Problem 1

Revision as of 21:16, 5 August 2014 by PythagorasofSamos (talk | contribs) (Solution 2)

Problem

Find the sum of all positive rational numbers that are less than 10 and that have denominator 30 when written in lowest terms.

Solution

Solution 1

There are 8 fractions which fit the conditions between 0 and 1: $\frac{1}{30},\frac{7}{30},\frac{11}{30},\frac{13}{30},\frac{17}{30},\frac{19}{30},\frac{23}{30},\frac{29}{30}$

Their sum is 4. Note that there are also 8 terms between 1 and 2 which we can obtain by adding 1 to each of our first 8 terms. For example, $1+\frac{19}{30}=\frac{49}{30}.$ Following this pattern, our answer is $4(10)+8(1+2+3+\cdots+9)=\boxed{400}.$

Solution 2

By Euler's Totient Function, there are $8$ numbers that are relatively prime to $30$, less than $30$. Note that they come in pairs $(m,30-m)$ which result in sums of $1$; thus the sum of the smallest $8$ rational numbers satisfying this is $\frac12\cdot8\cdot1=4$. Now refer to solution 1.


1992 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
First question
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png