Art of Problem Solving

1981 AHSME Problems/Problem 16: Difference between revisions

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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5 </math>
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5 </math>


==Solution (Long Way)==
==Solution 1==
Since <math>9=3^2</math>, every <math>2</math> digits in base <math>3</math> corresponds to <math>1</math> digit in base <math>9</math>.
Since this number is <math>20</math> digits long, which is an even number of digits, the answer must correspond to the first <math>2</math> digits on the left. So the answer is <math>12_{3} = 1 \cdot 3 + 2 = 5\ \fbox{(E)}</math>.
 
-edited by coolmath34, j314andrews
 
==Solution 2 (Long Way)==
Convert <math>x</math> to base 10 then convert the result to base 9.
Convert <math>x</math> to base 10 then convert the result to base 9.
<cmath>12112211122211112222_{3} = 8847859</cmath>
<cmath>12112211122211112222_{3} = 2150029898</cmath>


<cmath>8847859 = 17574874_{9}</cmath>
<cmath>2150029898 = 5484584488_{9}</cmath>


Therefore, the answer is <math> \textbf{(A)}\ 1.</math>
Therefore, the answer is <math> \textbf{(E)}\ 5.</math>


-edited by coolmath34
-edited by coolmath34
==See also==
{{AHSME box|year=1981|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 13:09, 28 June 2025

Problem

The base three representation of $x$ is \[12112211122211112222\] The first digit (on the left) of the base nine representation of $x$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5$

Solution 1

Since $9=3^2$, every $2$ digits in base $3$ corresponds to $1$ digit in base $9$. Since this number is $20$ digits long, which is an even number of digits, the answer must correspond to the first $2$ digits on the left. So the answer is $12_{3} = 1 \cdot 3 + 2 = 5\ \fbox{(E)}$.

-edited by coolmath34, j314andrews

Solution 2 (Long Way)

Convert $x$ to base 10 then convert the result to base 9. \[12112211122211112222_{3} = 2150029898\]

\[2150029898 = 5484584488_{9}\]

Therefore, the answer is $\textbf{(E)}\ 5.$

-edited by coolmath34

See also

1981 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
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 26 27 28 29 30
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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