Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 4"

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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
Since the three angles of a triangle add up to <math>180^{\circ}</math> and one of the angles is <math>90^{\circ}</math> because it's a right triangle, then <math>a^{\circ} + b^{\circ} = 90^{\circ}</math>.
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Since the three angles of a triangle add up to <math>180^{\circ}</math> and one of the angles is <math>90^{\circ}</math> because it's a right triangle, <math>a^{\circ} + b^{\circ} = 90^{\circ}</math>.
  
 
The greatest prime number less than <math>90</math> is <math>89</math>. If <math>a=89^{\circ}</math>, then <math>b=90^{\circ}-89^{\circ}=1^{\circ}</math>, which is not prime.
 
The greatest prime number less than <math>90</math> is <math>89</math>. If <math>a=89^{\circ}</math>, then <math>b=90^{\circ}-89^{\circ}=1^{\circ}</math>, which is not prime.
  
 
The next greatest prime number less than <math>90</math> is <math>83</math>. If <math>a=83^{\circ}</math>, then <math>b=7^{\circ}</math>, which IS prime, so we have our answer <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 7}</math> ~quacker88
 
The next greatest prime number less than <math>90</math> is <math>83</math>. If <math>a=83^{\circ}</math>, then <math>b=7^{\circ}</math>, which IS prime, so we have our answer <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 7}</math> ~quacker88
 
  
 
==Solution 2==
 
==Solution 2==

Revision as of 22:11, 8 February 2020

Problem

The acute angles of a right triangle are $a^{\circ}$ and $b^{\circ}$, where $a>b$ and both $a$ and $b$ are prime numbers. What is the least possible value of $b$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\  5 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 7 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 11$

Solution

Since the three angles of a triangle add up to $180^{\circ}$ and one of the angles is $90^{\circ}$ because it's a right triangle, $a^{\circ} + b^{\circ} = 90^{\circ}$.

The greatest prime number less than $90$ is $89$. If $a=89^{\circ}$, then $b=90^{\circ}-89^{\circ}=1^{\circ}$, which is not prime.

The next greatest prime number less than $90$ is $83$. If $a=83^{\circ}$, then $b=7^{\circ}$, which IS prime, so we have our answer $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 7}$ ~quacker88

Solution 2

Looking at the answer choices, only $7$ and $11$ are coprime to $90$. Testing $7$ makes the other angle $83$ which is prime, therefore our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 7}$

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/Gkm5rU5MlOU

~IceMatrix

See Also

2020 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 3
Followed by
Problem 5
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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