Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 17"

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Problem

Define $P(x) =(x-1^2)(x-2^2)\cdots(x-100^2).$ How many integers $n$ are there such that $P(n)\leq 0$ ?

$\textbf{(A) } 4900 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4950\qquad \textbf{(C) } 5000\qquad \textbf{(D) } 5050 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 5100$

Solution 1 (Casework)

We perform casework on $P(n)\leq0:$

$P(n)=0$

In this case, there are $100$ such integers $n:$ $1^2,2^2,3^2,\cdots,100^2.$

$P(n)<0$

There are $100$ factors in $P(x),$ and we need an odd number of them to be negative. We construct the table below: $\begin{array}{c|c|c} & & \\ [-2.5ex] \textbf{Interval of }\boldsymbol{x} & \boldsymbol{\#}\textbf{ of Negative Factors} & \textbf{Valid?} \\ [0.5ex] \hline & & \\ [-2ex] \left(-\infty,1^2\right) & 100 & \\ [0.5ex] \left(1^2,2^2\right) & 99 & \checkmark \\ [0.5ex] \left(2^2,3^2\right) & 98 & \\ [0.5ex] \left(3^2,4^2\right) & 97 & \checkmark \\ [0.5ex] \left(4^2,5^2\right) & 96 & \\ [0.5ex] \left(5^2,6^2\right) & 95 & \checkmark \\ [0.5ex] \left(6^2,7^2\right) & 94 & \\ [0.5ex] \cdots & \cdots & \cdots \\ [0.5ex] \left(99^2,100^2\right) & 1 & \checkmark \\ [0.5ex] \left(100^2,\infty\right) & 0 & \\ [0.5ex] \end{array}$ Note that there are $50$ valid intervals of $x.$ We count the integers in these intervals: $\begin{align*} \left(2^2-1^2-1\right)+\left(4^2-3^2-1\right)+\left(6^2-5^2-1\right)+\cdots+\left(100^2-99^2-1\right)&=\underbrace{\left(2^2-1^2\right)}_{(2+1)(2-1)}+\underbrace{\left(4^2-3^2\right)}_{(4+3)(4-3)}+\underbrace{\left(6^2-5^2\right)}_{(6+5)(6-5)}+\cdots+\underbrace{\left(100^2-99^2\right)}_{(100+99)(100-99)}-50 \\ &=\underbrace{(2+1)+(4+3)+(6+5)+\cdots+(100+99)}_{1+2+3+4+5+6+\cdots+99+100}-50 \\ &=\frac{101(100)}{2}-50 \\ &=5000. \end{align*}$ In this case, there are $5000$ such integers $n.$

Together, the answer is $100+5000=\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}.$

~PCChess (Solution)

~MRENTHUSIASM (Reformatting)

Solution 2

Notice that $P(x)$ is nonpositive when $x$ is between $100^2$ and $99^2$ , $98^2$ and $97^2, \ldots$ , $2^2$ and $1^2$ (inclusive), because there are an odd number of negatives, which means that the number of values equals $((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)$ .

This reduces to $200 + 196 + 192 + \ldots + 4 = 4(1+2+\ldots + 50) = 4 \cdot\frac{50 \cdot 51}{2} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}$

~Zeric -jesselan made minor edits

Solution 3 (End Behavior)

We know that $P(x)$ is a $100$ -degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, $P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}$ .

Since the degree of $P(x)$ is even, its end behaviors match. And since the leading coefficient is positive, we know that both ends approach $\infty$ as $x$ goes in either direction.

$\lim_{x\to-\infty} P(x)=\lim_{x\to\infty} P(x)=\infty$

So the first time $P(x)$ is going to be negative is when it intersects the $x$ -axis at an $x$ -intercept and it's going to dip below. This happens at $1^2$ , which is the smallest intercept.

However, when it hits the next intercept, it's going to go back up again into positive territory, we know this happens at $2^2$ . And when it hits $3^2$ , it's going to dip back into negative territory. Clearly, this is going to continue to snake around the intercepts until $100^2$ .

To get the amount of integers below and/or on the $x$ -axis, we simply need to count the integers. For example, the amount of integers in between the $[1^2,2^2]$ interval we got earlier, we subtract and add one. $(2^2-1^2+1)=4$ integers, so there are four integers in this interval that produce a negative result.

Doing this with all of the other intervals, we have

$(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)$ . Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88

Video Solutions

https://youtu.be/3dfbWzOfJAI?t=4026

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https://youtu.be/RKlG6oZq9so

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMMhSguq0w&list=PLeFyQ1uCoINM4D5Lgi5Y3KkfvQuYuIbj

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https://youtu.be/chDmeTQBxq8

~savannahsolver

https://youtu.be/R220vbM_my8?t=463

~ amritvignesh0719062.0

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 <math>\textbf{(A) } 4900 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4950\qquad \textbf{(C) } 5000\qquad \textbf{(D) } 5050 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 5100</math>
-== Solution 1 ==
+== Solution 1 (Casework) ==
-Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is a product of many integers. We either need one factor to be 0 or an odd number of negative factors.
-Case 1: There are 100 integers <math>n</math> for which <math>P(x)=0</math>
-Case 2: For there to be an odd number of negative factors, <math>n</math> must be between an odd number squared and an even number squared (the odd number squared is smaller than the even number squared). This means that there are <math>2+6+10+\dots+194+198</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. Simplifying, there are <math>5000</math> possible numbers.
-Summing, there are <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}</math> total possible values of <math>n</math>. ~PCChess
-== Solution 2 ==
-Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is nonpositive when <math>x</math> is between <math>100^2</math> and <math>99^2</math>, <math>98^2</math> and <math>97^2, \ldots</math> , <math>2^2</math> and <math>1^2</math> (inclusive), because there are an odd number of negatives, which means that the number of values equals <math>((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)</math>.
-This reduces to <math>200 + 196 + 192 + \ldots + 4 = 4(1+2+\ldots + 50) = 4 \cdot\frac{50 \cdot 51}{2} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}</math>
-~Zeric
--jesselan made minor edits
-== Solution 3 (End Behavior) ==
-We know that <math>P(x)</math> is a <math>100</math>-degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, <math>P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}</math>.
-Since the degree of <math>P(x)</math> is even, its end behaviors match. And since the leading coefficient is positive, we know that both ends approach <math>\infty</math> as <math>x</math> goes in either direction.
-<cmath>\lim_{x\to-\infty} P(x)=\lim_{x\to\infty} P(x)=\infty</cmath>
-So the first time <math>P(x)</math> is going to be negative is when it intersects the <math>x</math>-axis at an <math>x</math>-intercept and it's going to dip below. This happens at <math>1^2</math>, which is the smallest intercept.
-However, when it hits the next intercept, it's going to go back up again into positive territory, we know this happens at <math>2^2</math>. And when it hits <math>3^2</math>, it's going to dip back into negative territory. Clearly, this is going to continue to snake around the intercepts until <math>100^2</math>.
-To get the amount of integers below and/or on the <math>x</math>-axis, we simply need to count the integers. For example, the amount of integers in between the <math>[1^2,2^2]</math> interval we got earlier, we subtract and add one. <math>(2^2-1^2+1)=4</math> integers, so there are four integers in this interval that produce a negative result.
-Doing this with all of the other intervals, we have
-<math>(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)</math>. Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88
-== Solution 4 (Similar to Solution 1: Casework) ==
 We perform casework on <math>P(n)\leq0:</math>
 <ol style="margin-left: 1.5em;">
@@ Line 73: / Line 39: @@
 Together, the answer is <math>100+5000=\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}.</math>
-~MRENTHUSIASM
+~PCChess (Solution)
+~MRENTHUSIASM (Reformatting)
+== Solution 2 ==
+Notice that <math>P(x)</math> is nonpositive when <math>x</math> is between <math>100^2</math> and <math>99^2</math>, <math>98^2</math> and <math>97^2, \ldots</math> , <math>2^2</math> and <math>1^2</math> (inclusive), because there are an odd number of negatives, which means that the number of values equals <math>((100+99)(100-99) + 1) + ((98+97)(98-97)+1) + \ldots + ((2+1)(2-1)+1)</math>.
+This reduces to <math>200 + 196 + 192 + \ldots + 4 = 4(1+2+\ldots + 50) = 4 \cdot\frac{50 \cdot 51}{2} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) } 5100}</math>
+~Zeric
+-jesselan made minor edits
+== Solution 3 (End Behavior) ==
+We know that <math>P(x)</math> is a <math>100</math>-degree function with a positive leading coefficient. That is, <math>P(x)=x^{100}+ax^{99}+bx^{98}+...+\text{(constant)}</math>.
+Since the degree of <math>P(x)</math> is even, its end behaviors match. And since the leading coefficient is positive, we know that both ends approach <math>\infty</math> as <math>x</math> goes in either direction.
+<cmath>\lim_{x\to-\infty} P(x)=\lim_{x\to\infty} P(x)=\infty</cmath>
+So the first time <math>P(x)</math> is going to be negative is when it intersects the <math>x</math>-axis at an <math>x</math>-intercept and it's going to dip below. This happens at <math>1^2</math>, which is the smallest intercept.
+However, when it hits the next intercept, it's going to go back up again into positive territory, we know this happens at <math>2^2</math>. And when it hits <math>3^2</math>, it's going to dip back into negative territory. Clearly, this is going to continue to snake around the intercepts until <math>100^2</math>.
+To get the amount of integers below and/or on the <math>x</math>-axis, we simply need to count the integers. For example, the amount of integers in between the <math>[1^2,2^2]</math> interval we got earlier, we subtract and add one. <math>(2^2-1^2+1)=4</math> integers, so there are four integers in this interval that produce a negative result.
+Doing this with all of the other intervals, we have
+<math>(2^2-1^2+1)+(4^2-3^2+1)+...+(100^2-99^2+1)</math>. Proceed with Solution 2. ~quacker88
 == Video Solutions ==

2020 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 16	Followed by Problem 18
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
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