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Mock AIME 2 2006-2007 Problems/Problem 8: Difference between revisions

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The positive integers <math>\displaystyle x_1, x_2, ... , x_7</math> satisfy <math>\displaystyle x_6 = 144</math> and <math>\displaystyle x_{n+3} = x_{n+2}(x_{n+1}+x_n)</math> for <math>\displaystyle n = 1, 2, 3, 4</math>. Find the last three digits of <math>\displaystyle x_7</math>.
The positive integers <math>\displaystyle x_1, x_2, ... , x_7</math> satisfy <math>\displaystyle x_6 = 144</math> and <math>\displaystyle x_{n+3} = x_{n+2}(x_{n+1}+x_n)</math> for <math>\displaystyle n = 1, 2, 3, 4</math>. Find the last three digits of <math>\displaystyle x_7</math>.
==Solution==
==Solution==
{{solution}}
 
This solution is rather long and unpleasant, so a nicer solution may exist:
 
From the givens, <math>x_4 = x_3(x_2 + x_1)</math> and so <math>x_5 = x_4(x_3 + x_2) = x_3(x_2 + x_1)(x_3 + x_2)</math> and <math>x_6 = x_5(x_4 + x_3) = x_3(x_2 + x_1)(x_3 + x_2)(x_3(x_2 + x_1) + x_3) = x_3^2(x_3 + x_2)(x_2 + x_1)(x_2 + x_1 + 1) = 144 = 2^4\cdot 3^2</math>.
 
Note that this factorization of 144 contains two consecutive integers, <math>x_2 + x_1</math> and <math>x _2 + x_1 + 1</math>.  The factors of 144 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 144 itself.  As both <math>x_1</math> and <math>x_2</math> are positive integers, <math>x_1 + x_2 \geq 2</math>, so we must have <math>x_1 + x_2</math> equal to one of 2, 3 and 8.
 
If <math>x_1 + x_2 = 2</math> then <math>x_1 = x_2 = 1</math> and so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 1)\cdot 2 \cdot 3 = 144</math> from which <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 1) = 24</math>.  It is clear that this equation has no solutions if <math>x_3 \geq 3</math>, and neither <math>x_3 = 1</math> nor <math>x_3 = 2</math> is a solution, so in this case we have no solutions.
 
If <math>x_1 + x_2 = 8</math> then <math>x_3^2(x_3 + x_2)\cdot 8 \cdot 9 = 144</math> so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + x_2) = 2</math>.  It is clear that <math>x_3 = x_2 = 1</math> is the unique solution to this equation in positive integers.  Then <math>x_1 = 8 - x_2 = 7</math> and our sequence is <math>7, 1, 1, 8, 16, 144, 144(16 + 8) = 3456</math>.
 
If <math>x_1 + x_2 = 3</math> then either:
 
a) <math>x_1 = 1, x_2 = 2</math> and so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 2)\cdot 3\cdot 4 = 144</math> so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 2) = 12</math>, which has no solutions in positive integers
 
or
 
b) <math>x_1 = 2, x_2 = 1</math> and so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 1)\cdot 3\cdot 4 = 144</math> so <math>x_3^2(x_3 + 1) = 12</math> which has solution <math>x_3 = 2</math>.  Then our sequence becomes <math>2, 1, 2, 6, 18, 144, 144(18 + 6) = 3456</math>.
 
 
Thus we see there are two possible sequences, but in both cases the answer is 456.


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*[[Mock AIME 2 2006-2007]]
*[[Mock AIME 2 2006-2007]]
[[Category:Intermediate Number Theory Problems]]

Revision as of 20:09, 17 September 2006

Problem

The positive integers $\displaystyle x_1, x_2, ... , x_7$ satisfy $\displaystyle x_6 = 144$ and $\displaystyle x_{n+3} = x_{n+2}(x_{n+1}+x_n)$ for $\displaystyle n = 1, 2, 3, 4$. Find the last three digits of $\displaystyle x_7$.

Solution

This solution is rather long and unpleasant, so a nicer solution may exist:

From the givens, $x_4 = x_3(x_2 + x_1)$ and so $x_5 = x_4(x_3 + x_2) = x_3(x_2 + x_1)(x_3 + x_2)$ and $x_6 = x_5(x_4 + x_3) = x_3(x_2 + x_1)(x_3 + x_2)(x_3(x_2 + x_1) + x_3) = x_3^2(x_3 + x_2)(x_2 + x_1)(x_2 + x_1 + 1) = 144 = 2^4\cdot 3^2$.

Note that this factorization of 144 contains two consecutive integers, $x_2 + x_1$ and $x _2 + x_1 + 1$. The factors of 144 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 144 itself. As both $x_1$ and $x_2$ are positive integers, $x_1 + x_2 \geq 2$, so we must have $x_1 + x_2$ equal to one of 2, 3 and 8.

If $x_1 + x_2 = 2$ then $x_1 = x_2 = 1$ and so $x_3^2(x_3 + 1)\cdot 2 \cdot 3 = 144$ from which $x_3^2(x_3 + 1) = 24$. It is clear that this equation has no solutions if $x_3 \geq 3$, and neither $x_3 = 1$ nor $x_3 = 2$ is a solution, so in this case we have no solutions.

If $x_1 + x_2 = 8$ then $x_3^2(x_3 + x_2)\cdot 8 \cdot 9 = 144$ so $x_3^2(x_3 + x_2) = 2$. It is clear that $x_3 = x_2 = 1$ is the unique solution to this equation in positive integers. Then $x_1 = 8 - x_2 = 7$ and our sequence is $7, 1, 1, 8, 16, 144, 144(16 + 8) = 3456$.

If $x_1 + x_2 = 3$ then either:

a) $x_1 = 1, x_2 = 2$ and so $x_3^2(x_3 + 2)\cdot 3\cdot 4 = 144$ so $x_3^2(x_3 + 2) = 12$, which has no solutions in positive integers

or

b) $x_1 = 2, x_2 = 1$ and so $x_3^2(x_3 + 1)\cdot 3\cdot 4 = 144$ so $x_3^2(x_3 + 1) = 12$ which has solution $x_3 = 2$. Then our sequence becomes $2, 1, 2, 6, 18, 144, 144(18 + 6) = 3456$.


Thus we see there are two possible sequences, but in both cases the answer is 456.

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