Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 3"

(New page: ==Problem== According to the standard convention for exponentiation, <math>2^{2^{2^2}} = 2^{\left(2^{\left(2^2\right)}\right)} = 2^{16} = 65,536</math>. If the order in which the expone...)
 
 
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==Problem==
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#redirect [[2002 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 3]]
According to the standard convention for exponentiation,
 
 
 
<math>2^{2^{2^2}} = 2^{\left(2^{\left(2^2\right)}\right)} = 2^{16} = 65,536</math>.
 
 
 
If the order in which the exponentiations are performed is changed, how many other values are possible?
 
 
 
 
 
<math>\text{(A)}\ 0 \qquad \text{(B)}\ 1 \qquad \text{(C)}\ 2 \qquad \text{(D)}\ 3 \qquad \text{(E)}\ 4</math>
 
 
 
==Solution==
 
The best way to solve this problem is by simple brute force. We find that the only other value is <math>(2^2)^{2^2}=4^{2^2}=4^4=256</math>. Our answer is just <math>\boxed{\text{(B)}\ 1}</math>.
 

Latest revision as of 07:43, 18 February 2009