Difference between revisions of "1995 AIME Problems/Problem 10"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
What is the largest positive integer that is not the sum of a positive integral multiple of 42 and a positive composite integer?
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What is the largest positive integer that is not the sum of a positive integral multiple of <math>42</math> and a positive composite integer?
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
The requested number mod 42 must be a prime number. Also, every number that is a multiple of 42 greater than that prime number must also be prime, except for the requested number itself. So we make a table, listing all the primes up to 42 and the numbers that are multiples of 42 greater than them, until they reach a composite number.
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The requested number <math>\mod {42}</math> must be a [[prime]] number. Also, every number that is a multiple of <math>42</math> greater than that prime number must also be prime, except for the requested number itself. So we make a table, listing all the primes up to <math>42</math> and the numbers that are multiples of <math>42</math> greater than them, until they reach a composite number.
  
2:44
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<cmath>
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\begin{tabular}{|r||r|r|r|r|r|}
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\hline
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2&44&&&& \\
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3&45&&&& \\
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5&47&89&131&173&215 \\
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7&49&&&& \\
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11&53&95&&& \\
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13&55&&&& \\
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17&59&101&143&& \\
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19&61&103&145&& \\
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23&65&&&& \\
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29&71&113&155&& \\
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31&73&115&&& \\
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37&79&121&&& \\
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41&83&125&&& \\
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\hline
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\end{tabular}</cmath>
  
3:45
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<math>\boxed{215}</math> is the greatest number in the list, so it is the answer. Note that considering <math>\mod {5}</math> would have shortened the search, since <math>\text{gcd}(5,42)=1</math>, and so within <math>5</math> numbers at least one must be divisible by <math>5</math>.
  
5:47,89,131,173,215
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== See also ==
 
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{{AIME box|year=1995|num-b=9|num-a=11}}
7:49
 
 
 
11:53,95
 
  
13:55
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[[Category:Intermediate Number Theory Problems]]
 
 
17:59,101,143
 
 
 
19:61,103,145
 
 
 
23:65
 
 
 
29:71,113,155
 
 
 
31:73,115
 
 
 
37:79,121
 
 
 
41:83,125
 
 
 
215 is the greatest number in the list, so it is the answer.
 
 
 
== See also ==
 
* [[1995 AIME Problems/Problem 9 | Previous problem]]
 
* [[1995 AIME Problems/Problem 11 | Next problem]]
 
* [[1995 AIME Problems]]
 

Revision as of 20:50, 18 June 2008

Problem

What is the largest positive integer that is not the sum of a positive integral multiple of $42$ and a positive composite integer?

Solution

The requested number $\mod {42}$ must be a prime number. Also, every number that is a multiple of $42$ greater than that prime number must also be prime, except for the requested number itself. So we make a table, listing all the primes up to $42$ and the numbers that are multiples of $42$ greater than them, until they reach a composite number.

\[\begin{tabular}{|r||r|r|r|r|r|} \hline 2&44&&&& \\ 3&45&&&& \\ 5&47&89&131&173&215 \\ 7&49&&&& \\ 11&53&95&&& \\ 13&55&&&& \\ 17&59&101&143&& \\ 19&61&103&145&& \\ 23&65&&&& \\ 29&71&113&155&& \\ 31&73&115&&& \\ 37&79&121&&& \\  41&83&125&&& \\ \hline \end{tabular}\]

$\boxed{215}$ is the greatest number in the list, so it is the answer. Note that considering $\mod {5}$ would have shortened the search, since $\text{gcd}(5,42)=1$, and so within $5$ numbers at least one must be divisible by $5$.

See also

1995 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
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All AIME Problems and Solutions