2002 AMC 10P Problems/Problem 2: Difference between revisions
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We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem. | We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem. | ||
Let the first integer equal a. The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math> Plugging in <math>n=11, a_1=a,</math> and <math>a_n=a+10</math> into <math>\frac{n(a_1 + a_n)}{2}=2002,</math> we get: | Let the first integer equal <math>a.</math> The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math> Plugging in <math>n=11, a_1=a,</math> and <math>a_n=a+10</math> into <math>\frac{n(a_1 + a_n)}{2}=2002,</math> we get: | ||
\begin{align*} | \begin{align*} | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
2a&=354 \\ | 2a&=354 \\ | ||
a&=177\\ | a&=177\\ | ||
\end{align*} | |||
Thus, our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) }177}</math> | |||
== Solution 2 == | |||
We can directly add everything up since <math>1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10</math> is so little. | |||
Similar to the first solution, let the first integer equal <math>a.</math> The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math> | |||
\begin{align*} | |||
a + (a + 1) + (a + 2) + \; \dots \; + (a + 10) &= 2002 \\ | |||
11a + (1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10) &= 2002 \\ | |||
11a + 55 &= 2002 \\ | |||
11a &= 1947 \\ | |||
a &= \frac{1947}{11} \\ | |||
a &= 177 \\ | |||
\end{align*} | \end{align*} | ||
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{{AMC10 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}} | {{AMC10 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}} | ||
{{MAA Notice}} | {{MAA Notice}} | ||
[[Category: Introductory Algebra Problems]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:39, 15 October 2025
Problem 2
The sum of eleven consecutive integers is 
What is the smallest of these integers?
Solution 1
We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem.
Let the first integer equal 
The last integer in this string will be 
Plugging in 
and 
into 
we get:
\begin{align*} \frac{11(a + a+10)}{2}&=2002 \\ 11(2a+10)&=4004 \\ 2a+10&=364 \\ 2a&=354 \\ a&=177\\ \end{align*}
Thus, our answer is 
Solution 2
We can directly add everything up since 
is so little.
Similar to the first solution, let the first integer equal The last integer in this string will be
\begin{align*} a + (a + 1) + (a + 2) + \; \dots \; + (a + 10) &= 2002 \\ 11a + (1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10) &= 2002 \\ 11a + 55 &= 2002 \\ 11a &= 1947 \\ a &= \frac{1947}{11} \\ a &= 177 \\ \end{align*}
Thus, our answer is
See Also
| 2002 AMC 10P (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 1 |
Followed by Problem 3 | |
| 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 10 Problems and Solutions | ||
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