Difference between revisions of "2016 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 23"

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A binary operation <math>\diamondsuit</math> has the properties that <math>a\,\diamondsuit\, (b\,\diamondsuit \,c) = (a\,\diamondsuit \,b)\cdot c</math> and that <math>a\,\diamondsuit \,a=1</math> for all nonzero real numbers <math>a, b,</math> and <math>c</math>. (Here <math>\cdot</math> represents multiplication). The solution to the equation <math>2016 \,\diamondsuit\, (6\,\diamondsuit\, x)=100</math> can be written as <math>\tfrac{p}{q}</math>, where <math>p</math> and <math>q</math> are relatively prime positive integers. What is <math>p+q?</math>
 
A binary operation <math>\diamondsuit</math> has the properties that <math>a\,\diamondsuit\, (b\,\diamondsuit \,c) = (a\,\diamondsuit \,b)\cdot c</math> and that <math>a\,\diamondsuit \,a=1</math> for all nonzero real numbers <math>a, b,</math> and <math>c</math>. (Here <math>\cdot</math> represents multiplication). The solution to the equation <math>2016 \,\diamondsuit\, (6\,\diamondsuit\, x)=100</math> can be written as <math>\tfrac{p}{q}</math>, where <math>p</math> and <math>q</math> are relatively prime positive integers. What is <math>p+q?</math>
 
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<math>\textbf{(A) }109\qquad\textbf{(B) }201\qquad\textbf{(C) }301\qquad\textbf{(D) }3049\qquad\textbf{(E) }33,601</math>
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  

Revision as of 18:16, 3 February 2016

A binary operation $\diamondsuit$ has the properties that $a\,\diamondsuit\, (b\,\diamondsuit \,c) = (a\,\diamondsuit \,b)\cdot c$ and that $a\,\diamondsuit \,a=1$ for all nonzero real numbers $a, b,$ and $c$. (Here $\cdot$ represents multiplication). The solution to the equation $2016 \,\diamondsuit\, (6\,\diamondsuit\, x)=100$ can be written as $\tfrac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. What is $p+q?$ $\textbf{(A) }109\qquad\textbf{(B) }201\qquad\textbf{(C) }301\qquad\textbf{(D) }3049\qquad\textbf{(E) }33,601$

Solution

We see that $a \diamond a = 1$, and think of division. Testing, we see that the first condition $a \diamond (b \diamond c) = (a \diamond b) \cdot c$ is satisfied, because $\frac{a}{\frac{b}{c}} = \frac{a}{b} \cdot c$. Therefore, division is the operation $\diamond$. Solving the equation, $\frac{2016}{\frac{6}{x}} = \frac{2016}{6} \cdot x = 336x = 100$, so $x=\frac{100}{336} = \frac{25}{84}$, so the answer is $25 + 84 = \boxed{109}$ (A)

See Also

2016 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 22
Followed by
Problem 24
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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