Difference between revisions of "2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 1"

Revision as of 16:00, 21 March 2009

Problem

Call a $3$ -digit number geometric if it has $3$ distinct digits which, when read from left to right, form a geometric sequence. Find the difference between the largest and smallest geometric numbers.

Solution

Solution 1

Assume that the largest geometric number starts with a nine. We know that the common ratio must be a rational of the form $k/3$ for some integer $k$ , because a whole number should be attained for the 3rd term as well. When $k = 1$ , the number is $931$ . When $k = 2$ , the number is $964$ . When $k = 3$ , we get $999$ , but the integers must be distinct. By the same logic, the smallest geometric number is $124$ . The largest geometric number is $964$ and the smallest is $124$ . Thus the difference is $964 - 124 = \boxed{840}$ .

Solution 2

Consider the three-digit number $\overline{abc}$ . If its digits form a geometric sequence, we must have that ${a \over b} = {b \over c}$ , that is, $b^2 = ac$ .

The minimum and maximum geometric numbers occur when $a$ is minized and maximized, respectively. The minimum occurs when $a = 1$ ; letting $b = 2$ and $c = 4$ achieves this, so the smallest possible geometric number is 124.

For the maximum, we have that $b^2 = 9c$ ; $b$ is maximized when $9c$ is the greatest possible perfect square; this happens when $c = 4$ , yielding $b = 6$ . Thus, the largest possible geometric number is 964.

Our answer is thus $964 - 124 = \boxed{840}$ .

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 === Solution 2 ===
-Maybe an easier way how to see the solution: Consider a three-digit number <math>\overline{abc}</math>. If it is geometric, then we must have <math>\dfrac ab = \dfrac bc</math>, or equivalently <math>c = \dfrac{b^2}a</math>.
+Consider the three-digit number <math>\overline{abc}</math>. If its digits form a geometric sequence, we must have that <math>{a \over b} = {b \over c}</math>, that is, <math>b^2 = ac</math>.
-For <math>(a,b)=(9,8)</math> we get <math>c=\dfrac{64}9</math>, which is not an integer. Similarly, for <math>(a,b)=(9,7)</math> we will get a non-integer <math>c</math>. For <math>(a,b)=(9,6)</math> we get <math>c=\dfrac{36}9 = 4</math>, hence <math>964</math> is the largest three-digit geometric number. And as obviously the smallest possible pair <math>(a,b)=(1,2)</math> provides the solution <math>124</math>, the answer is <math>964 - 124 = \boxed{840}</math>.
+The minimum and maximum geometric numbers occur when <math>a</math> is minized and maximized, respectively. The minimum occurs when <math>a = 1</math>; letting <math>b = 2</math> and <math>c = 4</math> achieves this, so the smallest possible geometric number is 124.
+For the maximum, we have that <math>b^2 = 9c</math>; <math>b</math> is maximized when <math>9c</math> is the greatest possible perfect square; this happens when <math>c = 4</math>, yielding <math>b = 6</math>. Thus, the largest possible geometric number is 964.
+Our answer is thus <math>964 - 124 = \boxed{840}</math>.
 == See also ==

2009 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by First Question	Followed by Problem 2
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