Difference between revisions of "2013 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 7"

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We notice that the number of numbers said is incremented by one each time; that is, Jo says one number, then Blair says two numbers, then Jo says three numbers, etc.  Thus, after nine "turns," <math>1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45</math> numbers have been said.  In the tenth turn, the eighth number will be the 53rd number said, as <math>53-45=8</math>.  Since we're starting from 1 each time, the 53rd number said will be <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}</math>.
 
We notice that the number of numbers said is incremented by one each time; that is, Jo says one number, then Blair says two numbers, then Jo says three numbers, etc.  Thus, after nine "turns," <math>1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45</math> numbers have been said.  In the tenth turn, the eighth number will be the 53rd number said, as <math>53-45=8</math>.  Since we're starting from 1 each time, the 53rd number said will be <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}</math>.
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== See also ==
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{{AMC12 box|year=2013|ab=B|num-b=6|num-a=8}}

Revision as of 18:04, 22 February 2013

Problem

Jo and Blair take turns counting from $1$ to one more than the last number said by the other person. Jo starts by saying "$1$", so Blair follows by saying "$1, 2$" . Jo then says "$1, 2, 3$" , and so on. What is the $53^{rd}$ number said?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 8$

Solution

We notice that the number of numbers said is incremented by one each time; that is, Jo says one number, then Blair says two numbers, then Jo says three numbers, etc. Thus, after nine "turns," $1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45$ numbers have been said. In the tenth turn, the eighth number will be the 53rd number said, as $53-45=8$. Since we're starting from 1 each time, the 53rd number said will be $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}$.

See also

2013 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 6
Followed by
Problem 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions