Difference between revisions of "2014 UNCO Math Contest II Problems/Problem 1"

(Created page with "== Problem == == Solution == == See also == {{UNC Math Contest box|year=2014|n=I|before=First Question|num-a=2}} Category:Introductory Number Theory Problems")
 
(Solution)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
 +
 +
The Duchess had a child on May 1st every two years until she had five children. This year the
 +
youngest is <math>1</math> and the ages of the children are <math>1, 3, 5, 7</math>, and <math>9</math>. Alice notices that the sum of the ages
 +
is a perfect square: <math>1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25</math>. How old will the youngest be the next time the sum of
 +
the ages of the five children is a perfect square, and what is that perfect square?
 +
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
 +
We know that the sum of the ages is 25. To get another perfect square, we need to multiply it by a perfect square, so we get 100 for the next perfect square. We know their ages are (N-4)+(N-2)+(N)+(N+2)+(N+4)=100. Solving for N gives us 20, so the youngest is 20-4=16.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
{{UNC Math Contest box|year=2014|n=I|before=First Question|num-a=2}}
+
{{UNCO Math Contest box|year=2014|n=II|before=First Question|num-a=2}}
  
 
[[Category:Introductory Number Theory Problems]]
 
[[Category:Introductory Number Theory Problems]]

Latest revision as of 16:31, 23 December 2014

Problem

The Duchess had a child on May 1st every two years until she had five children. This year the youngest is $1$ and the ages of the children are $1, 3, 5, 7$, and $9$. Alice notices that the sum of the ages is a perfect square: $1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25$. How old will the youngest be the next time the sum of the ages of the five children is a perfect square, and what is that perfect square?


Solution

We know that the sum of the ages is 25. To get another perfect square, we need to multiply it by a perfect square, so we get 100 for the next perfect square. We know their ages are (N-4)+(N-2)+(N)+(N+2)+(N+4)=100. Solving for N gives us 20, so the youngest is 20-4=16.

See also

2014 UNCO Math Contest II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
First Question
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
All UNCO Math Contest Problems and Solutions