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Difference between revisions of "2018 AIME II Problems/Problem 3"

(Created page with "==Problem== Find the sum of all positive integers <math>b < 1000</math> such that the base-<math>b</math> integer <math>36_{b}</math> is a perfect square and the base-<math>b...")
 
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Find the sum of all positive integers <math>b < 1000</math> such that the base-<math>b</math> integer <math>36_{b}</math> is a perfect square and the base-<math>b</math> integer <math>27_{b}</math> is a perfect cube.
 
Find the sum of all positive integers <math>b < 1000</math> such that the base-<math>b</math> integer <math>36_{b}</math> is a perfect square and the base-<math>b</math> integer <math>27_{b}</math> is a perfect cube.
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==Solution==
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The first step is to convert <math>36_{b}</math> and <math>27_{b}</math> into base-10 numbers. Then, we can write <math>36_{b}</math> <math>= 3b + 6</math> and <math>27_{b}</math> <math>= 2b + 7</math>. It should also be noted that <math>8 \leq b < 1000</math>.
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Because there are less perfect cubes than perfect squares for the restriction we are given on <math>b</math>, it is best to list out all the perfect cubes. Since the maximum <math>b</math> can be is 1000 and <math>2</math> • <math>1000 + 7 = 2007</math>, we can list all the perfect cubes less than 2007.
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Now, <math>2b + 7</math> must be one of <math>3^3, 4^3, ... , 12^3</math>. However, <math>2b + 7</math> will always be odd, so we can eliminate the cubes of the even numbers and change our list of potential cubes to <math>3^3, 5^3, 7^3, 9^3</math>, and <math>11^3</math>.
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Because <math>3b + 6</math> is a perfect square and is clearly divisible by 3, the cube, which is <math>2b + 7</math>, must also be divisible by 3. Therefore, the only cubes that <math>2b + 7</math> could potentially be now are <math>3^3</math> and <math>9^3</math>.
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We need to test both of these cubes to make sure <math>3b + 6</math> is a perfect square.
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If we set <math>3^3 (27)</math> equal to <math>2b + 7</math>, <math>b = 10</math>. If we plug this value of b into <math>3b + 6</math>, the expression equals <math>36</math>, which is indeed a perfect square.
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If we set <math>9^3 (729)</math> equal to <math>2b + 7</math>, <math>b = 361</math>. If we plug this value of b into <math>3b + 6</math>, the expression equals <math>1089</math>, which is <math>33^2</math>.
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We have proven that both <math>b = 10</math> and <math>b = 361</math> are the only solutions, so <math>10 + 361 =</math> <math>\boxed{371}</math>.
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==See Also==
  
 
{{AIME box|year=2018|n=II|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2018|n=II|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 09:19, 24 March 2018

Problem

Find the sum of all positive integers $b < 1000$ such that the base-$b$ integer $36_{b}$ is a perfect square and the base-$b$ integer $27_{b}$ is a perfect cube.

Solution

The first step is to convert $36_{b}$ and $27_{b}$ into base-10 numbers. Then, we can write $36_{b}$ $= 3b + 6$ and $27_{b}$ $= 2b + 7$. It should also be noted that $8 \leq b < 1000$.

Because there are less perfect cubes than perfect squares for the restriction we are given on $b$, it is best to list out all the perfect cubes. Since the maximum $b$ can be is 1000 and $2$ • $1000 + 7 = 2007$, we can list all the perfect cubes less than 2007.

Now, $2b + 7$ must be one of $3^3, 4^3, ... , 12^3$. However, $2b + 7$ will always be odd, so we can eliminate the cubes of the even numbers and change our list of potential cubes to $3^3, 5^3, 7^3, 9^3$, and $11^3$.

Because $3b + 6$ is a perfect square and is clearly divisible by 3, the cube, which is $2b + 7$, must also be divisible by 3. Therefore, the only cubes that $2b + 7$ could potentially be now are $3^3$ and $9^3$.

We need to test both of these cubes to make sure $3b + 6$ is a perfect square.

If we set $3^3 (27)$ equal to $2b + 7$, $b = 10$. If we plug this value of b into $3b + 6$, the expression equals $36$, which is indeed a perfect square.

If we set $9^3 (729)$ equal to $2b + 7$, $b = 361$. If we plug this value of b into $3b + 6$, the expression equals $1089$, which is $33^2$.

We have proven that both $b = 10$ and $b = 361$ are the only solutions, so $10 + 361 =$ $\boxed{371}$.

See Also

2018 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 2 		Followed by
Problem 4
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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