Difference between revisions of "2005 AIME II Problems/Problem 11"

Latest revision as of 14:08, 7 October 2020

Problem

Let $m$ be a positive integer, and let $a_0, a_1,\ldots,a_m$ be a sequence of reals such that $a_0 = 37, a_1 = 72, a_m = 0,$ and $a_{k+1} = a_{k-1} - \frac 3{a_k}$ for $k = 1,2,\ldots, m-1.$ Find $m.$

Solution 1

For $0 < k < m$ , we have

$a_{k}a_{k+1} = a_{k-1}a_{k} - 3$ .

Thus the product $a_{k}a_{k+1}$ is a monovariant: it decreases by 3 each time $k$ increases by 1. For $k = 0$ we have $a_{k}a_{k+1} = 37\cdot 72$ , so when $k = \frac{37 \cdot 72}{3} = 888$ , $a_{k}a_{k+1}$ will be zero for the first time, which implies that $m = \boxed{889}$ , our answer.

Note: In order for $a_{m} = 0$ we need $a_{m-2}a_{m-1}=3$ simply by the recursion definition.

Solution 2

Plugging in $k = m-1$ to the given relation, we get $0 = a_{m-2} - \frac {3}{a_{m-1}} \implies{a_{m-2}a_{m-1} = 3}$ . Inspecting the value of $a_{k}a_{k+1}$ for small values of $k$ , we see that $a_{k}a_{k+1} = 37\cdot 72 - 3k$ . Setting the RHS of this equation equal to $3$ , we find that $m$ must be $\boxed{889}$ .

~ anellipticcurveoverq

Video solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfxNr7lv7iQ

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Problem ==
-Let <math>m </math> be a positive integer, and let <math> a_0, a_1,\ldots,a_m </math> be a sequence of integers such that <math>a_0 = 37, a_1 = 72, a_m = 0, </math> and <math> a_{k+1} = a_{k-1} - \frac 3{a_k} </math> for <math> k = 1,2,\ldots, m-1. </math> Find <math>m. </math>
+Let <math>m </math> be a positive integer, and let <math> a_0, a_1,\ldots,a_m </math> be a sequence of reals such that <math>a_0 = 37, a_1 = 72, a_m = 0, </math> and <math> a_{k+1} = a_{k-1} - \frac 3{a_k} </math> for <math> k = 1,2,\ldots, m-1. </math> Find <math>m. </math>
-''Note: Clearly, the stipulation that the sequence is composed of integers is a minor oversight, as the term <math>a_2 </math>, for example, is obviously not integral.''
+==Solution 1==
-== Solution ==
 For <math>0 < k < m</math>, we have
@@ Line 13: / Line 11: @@
 </center>
-Thus the product <math>a_{k}a_{k+1}</math> is a [[monovariant]]: it decreases by 3 each time <math>k</math> increases by 1.  Since for <math>k = 0</math> we have <math>a_{k}a_{k+1} = 37\cdot 72</math>, so when <math>k = \frac{37 \cdot 72}{3} = 888</math>, <math>a_{k}a_{k+1}</math> will be zero for the first time, which implies that <math>m = 889</math>, our answer.
+Thus the product <math>a_{k}a_{k+1}</math> is a [[monovariant]]: it decreases by 3 each time <math>k</math> increases by 1.  For <math>k = 0</math> we have <math>a_{k}a_{k+1} = 37\cdot 72</math>, so when <math>k = \frac{37 \cdot 72}{3} = 888</math>, <math>a_{k}a_{k+1}</math> will be zero for the first time, which implies that <math>m = \boxed{889}</math>, our answer.
+Note: In order for <math>a_{m} = 0</math> we need <math>a_{m-2}a_{m-1}=3</math> simply by the recursion definition.
+==Solution 2==
+Plugging in <math>k = m-1</math> to the given relation, we get <math>0 = a_{m-2} - \frac {3}{a_{m-1}} \implies{a_{m-2}a_{m-1} = 3}</math>. Inspecting the value of <math>a_{k}a_{k+1}</math> for small values of <math>k</math>, we see that <math>a_{k}a_{k+1} = 37\cdot 72 - 3k</math>. Setting the RHS of this equation equal to <math>3</math>, we find that <math>m</math> must be <math> \boxed{889}</math>.
+~ anellipticcurveoverq
+==Video solution==
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfxNr7lv7iQ
 == See also ==

2005 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 10	Followed by Problem 12
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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