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Difference between revisions of "1990 AIME Problems/Problem 13"

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Let's divide all elements of T into sections. Each section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math> And, each section must have 1 or 2 elements. So, let's consider both cases.  
 
Let's divide all elements of T into sections. Each section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math> And, each section must have 1 or 2 elements. So, let's consider both cases.  
  
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If a section has one element, we claim that the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit. Let this element be <math>9^{k}</math> and the section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math>. To the contrary, let's assume the number (<math>9^{k}</math>) does have 9 as the leftmost digit. Thus, <math>9 \cdot 10^i \leq 9^k</math>. But, if you divide both sides by 9, you get <math>10^i \leq 9^{k-1}</math>, and because <math>9^{k-1} < 9^{k} < 10^{i+1}</math>, so we have another number (<math>9^{k-1}</math>) in the same section (<math>10^i \leq 9^{k-1} < 10^{i+1}</math>). Which is a contradiction to our assumption that the section only has 1 element. So in this case, the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit.
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If a section has 1 element, we claim that the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit. Let this element be <math>9^{k}</math> and the section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math>. To the contrary, let's assume the number (<math>9^{k}</math>) does have 9 as the leftmost digit. Thus, <math>9 \cdot 10^i \leq 9^k</math>. But, if you divide both sides by 9, you get <math>10^i \leq 9^{k-1}</math>, and because <math>9^{k-1} < 9^{k} < 10^{i+1}</math>, so we have another number (<math>9^{k-1}</math>) in the same section (<math>10^i \leq 9^{k-1} < 10^{i+1}</math>). Which is a contradiction to our assumption that the section only has 1 element. So in this case, the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit.
  
 
If a section has 2 elements, we claim one has to have a 9 as the leftmost digit, one doesn't. Let the elements be <math>9^{k}</math> and <math>9^{k+1}</math>, and the section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math>.
 
If a section has 2 elements, we claim one has to have a 9 as the leftmost digit, one doesn't. Let the elements be <math>9^{k}</math> and <math>9^{k+1}</math>, and the section ranges from <math>10^{i}</math> to <math>10^{i+1}</math>.

Revision as of 14:38, 27 June 2019

Problem

Let $T = \{9^k : k ~ \mbox{is an integer}, 0 \le k \le 4000\}$. Given that $9^{4000}_{}$ has 3817 digits and that its first (leftmost) digit is 9, how many elements of $T_{}^{}$ have 9 as their leftmost digit?

Solution 1

Since $9^{4000}$ has 3816 digits more than $9^1$, $4000 - 3816 = \boxed{184}$ numbers have 9 as their leftmost digits.

Solution 2

Let's divide all elements of T into sections. Each section ranges from $10^{i}$ to $10^{i+1}$ And, each section must have 1 or 2 elements. So, let's consider both cases.

If a section has 1 element, we claim that the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit. Let this element be $9^{k}$ and the section ranges from $10^{i}$ to $10^{i+1}$. To the contrary, let's assume the number ($9^{k}$) does have 9 as the leftmost digit. Thus, $9 \cdot 10^i \leq 9^k$. But, if you divide both sides by 9, you get $10^i \leq 9^{k-1}$, and because $9^{k-1} < 9^{k} < 10^{i+1}$, so we have another number ($9^{k-1}$) in the same section ($10^i \leq 9^{k-1} < 10^{i+1}$). Which is a contradiction to our assumption that the section only has 1 element. So in this case, the number doesn't have 9 as the leftmost digit.

If a section has 2 elements, we claim one has to have a 9 as the leftmost digit, one doesn't. Let the elements be $9^{k}$ and $9^{k+1}$, and the section ranges from $10^{i}$ to $10^{i+1}$. So We know $10^{i} \leq 9^{k} < 9^{k+1} < 10^{i+1}$. From $10^{i} \leq 9^{k}$, we know $9 \cdot 10^{i} \leq 9^{k+1}$, and since $9^{k+1} < 10^{i+1}$. The number($9^{k+1}$)'s leftmost digit must be 9, and the other number($9^{k}$)'s leftmost digit is 1.

There are total 4001 elements in T and 3817 sections (each esction can only has one or two elements). The two elements section must have 9 as the left most digit. We can take 4001 elements, subtract 3817 elements that don't have 9 as the leftmost digit, and get $\boxed{184}$ numbers that have 9 as the leftmost digit.

- AlexLikeMath

See also

1990 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 12 		Followed by
Problem 14
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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