2021 JMPSC Sprint Problems/Problem 1

Problem

Compute $\left(\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{9}\right)(3+6+9)$.

Solution

Solving the right side gives $3 + 6 + 9 = 18$. Distributing into the left side gives $\frac{18}{3}+\frac{18}{6}+\frac{18}{9}$, so the answer is $6 + 3 + 2 = \boxed{11}$.


Solution 2

$\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{9}=\frac{6}{18}+\frac{3}{18}+\frac{2}{18}=\frac{11}{18}$ and $3+6+9=18$, so the answer is $\frac{11}{18}\cdot18=\boxed{11}$.


See also

  1. Other 2021 JMPSC Sprint Problems
  2. 2021 JMPSC Sprint Answer Key
  3. All JMPSC Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Junior Mathematicians' Problem Solving Competition. JMPSC.png