Difference between revisions of "2000 AMC 12 Problems/Problem 6"

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{{duplicate|[[2000 AMC 12 Problems|2000 AMC 12 #6]] and [[2000 AMC 10 Problems|2000 AMC 10 #11]]}}
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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
 
Two different [[prime number]]s between <math>4</math> and <math>18</math> are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?
 
Two different [[prime number]]s between <math>4</math> and <math>18</math> are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?
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<math> \mathrm{(A) \ 21 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }  </math>
 
<math> \mathrm{(A) \ 21 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }  </math>
  
== Solution 1 ==
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==Solution==
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=== Solution 1 ===
 
Let the primes be <math>p</math> and <math>q</math>.
 
Let the primes be <math>p</math> and <math>q</math>.
  
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But <math>(p-1) \cdot (q-1)=120=2^3\cdot 3 \cdot 5</math> could be <math>2 \cdot 60,4 \cdot 30,6 \cdot 20</math> or <math>10 \cdot 12.</math> Of these, three have <math>p</math> and <math>q</math> prime, but only the last has them both small enough.  Therefore the answer is <math> C </math>.
 
But <math>(p-1) \cdot (q-1)=120=2^3\cdot 3 \cdot 5</math> could be <math>2 \cdot 60,4 \cdot 30,6 \cdot 20</math> or <math>10 \cdot 12.</math> Of these, three have <math>p</math> and <math>q</math> prime, but only the last has them both small enough.  Therefore the answer is <math> C </math>.
  
== Solution 2 ==
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=== Solution 2 ===
 
 
 
All prime numbers between 4 and 18 have an odd product and an even sum. Any odd number minus an even number is an odd number, so we can eliminate B and D. Since the highest two prime numbers we can pick are 13 and 17, the highest number we can make is <math>(13)(17)-(13+17) = 221 - 30 = 191</math>. Thus, we can eliminate E. Similarly, the two lowest prime numbers we can pick are 5 and 7, so the lowest number we can make is <math>(5)(7)-(5+7) = 23</math>. Therefore, A cannot be an answer. So, the answer must be <math> C </math>.
 
All prime numbers between 4 and 18 have an odd product and an even sum. Any odd number minus an even number is an odd number, so we can eliminate B and D. Since the highest two prime numbers we can pick are 13 and 17, the highest number we can make is <math>(13)(17)-(13+17) = 221 - 30 = 191</math>. Thus, we can eliminate E. Similarly, the two lowest prime numbers we can pick are 5 and 7, so the lowest number we can make is <math>(5)(7)-(5+7) = 23</math>. Therefore, A cannot be an answer. So, the answer must be <math> C </math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2000|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2000|num-b=5|num-a=7}}
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{{AMC10 box|year=2000|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
  
 
[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]
 
[[Category:Introductory Algebra Problems]]

Revision as of 22:43, 26 November 2011

The following problem is from both the 2000 AMC 12 #6 and 2000 AMC 10 #11, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Two different prime numbers between $4$ and $18$ are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?

$\mathrm{(A) \ 21 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }$

Solution

Solution 1

Let the primes be $p$ and $q$.

The problem asks us for possible values of $K$ where $K=pq-p-q$

Using Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick:

$K+1=pq-p-q+1$

$K+1=(p-1)(q-1)$

Possible values of $(p-1)$ and $(q-1)$ are:

$4,6,10,12,16$

The possible values for $K+1$ (formed by multipling two distinct values for $(p-1)$ and $(q-1)$) are:

$24,40,48,60,64,72,96,120,160,192$

So the possible values of $K$ are:

$23,39,47,59,63,71,95,119,159,191$

The only answer choice on this list is $119 \Rightarrow C$

Note: once we apply the factoring trick we see that, since $p-1$ and $q-1$ are even, $K+1$ should be a multiple of $4$.

These means that only $119 \Rightarrow C$ and $231 \Rightarrow E$ are possible.

We can't have $(p-1) \cdot (q-1)=232=2^3\cdot 29$ with $p$ and $q$ below $18$. Indeed, $(p-1) \cdot (q-1)$ would have to be $2 \cdot 116$ or $4 \cdot 58$.

But $(p-1) \cdot (q-1)=120=2^3\cdot 3 \cdot 5$ could be $2 \cdot 60,4 \cdot 30,6 \cdot 20$ or $10 \cdot 12.$ Of these, three have $p$ and $q$ prime, but only the last has them both small enough. Therefore the answer is $C$.

Solution 2

All prime numbers between 4 and 18 have an odd product and an even sum. Any odd number minus an even number is an odd number, so we can eliminate B and D. Since the highest two prime numbers we can pick are 13 and 17, the highest number we can make is $(13)(17)-(13+17) = 221 - 30 = 191$. Thus, we can eliminate E. Similarly, the two lowest prime numbers we can pick are 5 and 7, so the lowest number we can make is $(5)(7)-(5+7) = 23$. Therefore, A cannot be an answer. So, the answer must be $C$.

See also

2000 AMC 12 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 5
Followed by
Problem 7
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 12 Problems and Solutions
2000 AMC 10 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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