Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 15"

(Solution 2)
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Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by <math>5^{22}</math> (which is the same as multiplying by 1) to give <math>\frac{5^{22} \cdot 123456789}{10^{26}}</math>. Now, instead of thinking about this as a fraction, think of it as the division calculation <math>(5^{22} \cdot 123456789) \div 10^{26}</math> . The dividend is a huge number, but we know it doesn't have any digits to the right of the decimal point. Also, the dividend is not a multiple of 10 (it's not a multiple of 2), so these 26 divisions by 10 will each shift the entire dividend one digit to the right of the decimal point. Thus,  
 
Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by <math>5^{22}</math> (which is the same as multiplying by 1) to give <math>\frac{5^{22} \cdot 123456789}{10^{26}}</math>. Now, instead of thinking about this as a fraction, think of it as the division calculation <math>(5^{22} \cdot 123456789) \div 10^{26}</math> . The dividend is a huge number, but we know it doesn't have any digits to the right of the decimal point. Also, the dividend is not a multiple of 10 (it's not a multiple of 2), so these 26 divisions by 10 will each shift the entire dividend one digit to the right of the decimal point. Thus,  
 
<math>\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}</math> is the minimum number of digits to the right of the decimal point needed.
 
<math>\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}</math> is the minimum number of digits to the right of the decimal point needed.
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==Solution 3==
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The denominator is <math>10^4 \cdot 2^{22}</math>. Each <math>10</math> adds one digit to the right of the decimal, and each additional <math>2</math> adds another digit. The answer is <math>4 + 22 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}</math>.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2015|ab=A|num-b=14|num-a=16}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2015|ab=A|num-b=14|num-a=16}}

Revision as of 21:59, 9 April 2018

Problem

What is the minimum number of digits to the right of the decimal point needed to express the fraction $\frac{123456789}{2^{26}\cdot 5^4}$ as a decimal?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 22\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 26\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 30\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 104$

Solution 1

We can rewrite the fraction as $\frac{123456789}{2^{22} \cdot 10^4} = \frac{12345.6789}{2^{22}}$. Since the last digit of the numerator is odd, a $5$ is added to the right if the numerator is divided by $2$, and this will continuously happen because $5$, itself, is odd. Indeed, this happens twenty-two times since we divide by $2$ twenty-two times, so we will need $22$ more digits. Hence, the answer is $4 + 22 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}$

Solution 2

Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by $5^{22}$ (which is the same as multiplying by 1) to give $\frac{5^{22} \cdot 123456789}{10^{26}}$. Now, instead of thinking about this as a fraction, think of it as the division calculation $(5^{22} \cdot 123456789) \div 10^{26}$ . The dividend is a huge number, but we know it doesn't have any digits to the right of the decimal point. Also, the dividend is not a multiple of 10 (it's not a multiple of 2), so these 26 divisions by 10 will each shift the entire dividend one digit to the right of the decimal point. Thus, $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}$ is the minimum number of digits to the right of the decimal point needed.

Solution 3

The denominator is $10^4 \cdot 2^{22}$. Each $10$ adds one digit to the right of the decimal, and each additional $2$ adds another digit. The answer is $4 + 22 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 26}$.

See Also

2015 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 14
Followed by
Problem 16
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