Difference between revisions of "2008 UNCO Math Contest II Problems/Problem 9"

(Created page with "== Problem == Let <math>C_n = 1+10 +10^2 + \cdots + 10^{n-1}.</math> (a) Prove that <math> 9C_n = 10^n -1.</math> (b) Prove that <math>(3C_3+ 2)^2 =112225.</math> (c) Prove t...")
 
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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(a)  We know that <math>C_n</math> is a geometric series, so we can define it explicitly as follows
  
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<math>C_n=\frac{10^n-1}{9}</math>
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multiplying both sides by 9 yields our answer.
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(b) We have
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<math>(3*111+2)^2=335^2</math>,
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yielding <math>112,225</math>.
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(c) We say that the nth member of the sequence equals <math>(3*C_n+2)^2</math>. Expanding yields
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<math>(3*\frac{10^n-1}{9}+2)^2</math>,
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<math>=(\frac{10^n+5}{3})^2</math>,
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<math>=\frac{10^{2n}}{9}+\frac{10^{n+1}}{9}+\frac{25}{9}</math>.
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Dividing each term separately, we know that the first term will add <math>2n</math> <math>1</math>s and <math>\frac{1}{9}</math>, the second term will add <math>n+1</math> <math>1</math>s and <math>\frac{1}{9}</math>, and the third will add <math>\frac{25}{9}</math>, giving
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<math>\overbrace{11...11}^{2n}+\overbrace{11...11}^{n+1}+\frac{27}{9}</math>,
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<math>\overbrace{11...11}^{n-1}\overbrace{22...22}^{n}5</math>,
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which is exactly what we wanted.
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(a) <math>\frac{10^n-1}{9}</math>  (b) <math>112,225</math>  (c) <math>11,122,225</math>
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==

Revision as of 21:48, 17 June 2021

Problem

Let $C_n = 1+10 +10^2 + \cdots + 10^{n-1}.$

(a) Prove that $9C_n = 10^n -1.$

(b) Prove that $(3C_3+ 2)^2 =112225.$

(c) Prove that each term in the following sequence is a perfect square: \[25, 1225, 112225, 11122225, 1111222225,\ldots\]


Solution

(a) We know that $C_n$ is a geometric series, so we can define it explicitly as follows

$C_n=\frac{10^n-1}{9}$

multiplying both sides by 9 yields our answer.


(b) We have

$(3*111+2)^2=335^2$,

yielding $112,225$.


(c) We say that the nth member of the sequence equals $(3*C_n+2)^2$. Expanding yields

$(3*\frac{10^n-1}{9}+2)^2$,

$=(\frac{10^n+5}{3})^2$,

$=\frac{10^{2n}}{9}+\frac{10^{n+1}}{9}+\frac{25}{9}$.

Dividing each term separately, we know that the first term will add $2n$ $1$s and $\frac{1}{9}$, the second term will add $n+1$ $1$s and $\frac{1}{9}$, and the third will add $\frac{25}{9}$, giving

$\overbrace{11...11}^{2n}+\overbrace{11...11}^{n+1}+\frac{27}{9}$,

$\overbrace{11...11}^{n-1}\overbrace{22...22}^{n}5$,

which is exactly what we wanted.


(a) $\frac{10^n-1}{9}$ (b) $112,225$ (c) $11,122,225$

See Also

2008 UNCO Math Contest II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
All UNCO Math Contest Problems and Solutions