Difference between revisions of "1997 AHSME Problems/Problem 20"

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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1,\!627,\!384,\!950\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2,\!345,\!678,\!910\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3,\!579,\!111,\!300\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4,\!692,\!581,\!470\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5,\!815,\!937,\!260 </math>
 
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1,\!627,\!384,\!950\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2,\!345,\!678,\!910\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3,\!579,\!111,\!300\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4,\!692,\!581,\!470\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5,\!815,\!937,\!260 </math>
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==Solution==
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The sum of the first <math>100</math> integers is <math>\frac{100\cdot 101}{2} = 5050</math>.
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If you add an integer <math>k</math> to each of the <math>100</math> numbers, you get <math>5050 + 100k</math>, which is the sum of the numbers from <math>k+1</math> to <math>k+100</math>.
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You're only adding multiples of <math>100</math>, so the last two digits will remain unchanged.
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Thus, the only possible answer is <math>\boxed{A}</math>, because the last two digits are <math>50</math>.
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As an aside, if <math>5050 + 100k = 1627384950</math>, then <math>k = 16273799</math>, and the numbers added are the integers from <math>16273800</math> to <math>16273899</math>.
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==Solution==
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Notice how the sum of 100 consecutive integers is <math>(x-49)+(x-48)+(x-47)...+x+...(x+47)+(x+48)+(x+49)+(x+50)</math>.
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Cancelling out the constants give us <math>100x + 50</math>.
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Looking over at the list of possible values, we quickly realise that the only possible solution is <math>\boxed{A}</math>
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== See also ==
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{{AHSME box|year=1997|num-b=19|num-a=21}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 09:59, 19 August 2017

Problem

Which one of the following integers can be expressed as the sum of $100$ consecutive positive integers?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1,\!627,\!384,\!950\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2,\!345,\!678,\!910\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3,\!579,\!111,\!300\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4,\!692,\!581,\!470\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5,\!815,\!937,\!260$

Solution

The sum of the first $100$ integers is $\frac{100\cdot 101}{2} = 5050$.

If you add an integer $k$ to each of the $100$ numbers, you get $5050 + 100k$, which is the sum of the numbers from $k+1$ to $k+100$.

You're only adding multiples of $100$, so the last two digits will remain unchanged.

Thus, the only possible answer is $\boxed{A}$, because the last two digits are $50$.

As an aside, if $5050 + 100k = 1627384950$, then $k = 16273799$, and the numbers added are the integers from $16273800$ to $16273899$.

Solution

Notice how the sum of 100 consecutive integers is $(x-49)+(x-48)+(x-47)...+x+...(x+47)+(x+48)+(x+49)+(x+50)$.

Cancelling out the constants give us $100x + 50$.

Looking over at the list of possible values, we quickly realise that the only possible solution is $\boxed{A}$

See also

1997 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
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