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Difference between revisions of "2005 AIME I Problems/Problem 4"
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The director of a marching band wishes to place the members into a formation that includes all of them and has no unfilled positions. If they are arranged in a square formation, there are 5 members left over. The director realizes that if he arranges the group in a formation with 7 more rows than columns, there are no members left over. Find the maximum number of members this band can have.
 
The director of a marching band wishes to place the members into a formation that includes all of them and has no unfilled positions. If they are arranged in a square formation, there are 5 members left over. The director realizes that if he arranges the group in a formation with 7 more rows than columns, there are no members left over. Find the maximum number of members this band can have.
  
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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=== Solution 1 ===
 
If <math>n > 14</math> then <math>n^2 + 6n + 14 < n^2 + 7n < n^2 + 8n + 21</math> and so <math>(n + 3)^2 + 5 < n(n + 7) < (n + 4)^2 + 5</math>.  If <math>n</math> is an [[integer]] there are no numbers which are 5 more than a [[perfect square]] strictly between <math>(n + 3)^2 + 5</math> and <math>(n + 4)^2 + 5</math>.  Thus, if the number of columns is <math>n</math>, the number of students is <math>n(n + 7)</math> which must be 5 more than a perfect square, so <math>n \leq 14</math>.  In fact, when <math>n = 14</math> we have <math>n(n + 7) = 14\cdot 21 = 294 = 17^2 + 5</math>, so this number works and no larger number can.  Thus, the answer is 294.
 
If <math>n > 14</math> then <math>n^2 + 6n + 14 < n^2 + 7n < n^2 + 8n + 21</math> and so <math>(n + 3)^2 + 5 < n(n + 7) < (n + 4)^2 + 5</math>.  If <math>n</math> is an [[integer]] there are no numbers which are 5 more than a [[perfect square]] strictly between <math>(n + 3)^2 + 5</math> and <math>(n + 4)^2 + 5</math>.  Thus, if the number of columns is <math>n</math>, the number of students is <math>n(n + 7)</math> which must be 5 more than a perfect square, so <math>n \leq 14</math>.  In fact, when <math>n = 14</math> we have <math>n(n + 7) = 14\cdot 21 = 294 = 17^2 + 5</math>, so this number works and no larger number can.  Thus, the answer is 294.
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=== Solution 2 ===
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Define the number of rows/columns of the square formation as <math>s</math>, and the number of rows of the rectangular formation <math>r</math> (so there are <math>r - 7</math> columns). Thus, <math>s^2 + 5 = r(r-7) \Longrightarrow r^2 - 7r - s^2 - 5 = 0</math>. The [[quadratic formula]] yields <math>r = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{49 - 4(1)(-s - 5)}}{2} = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{4s^2 + 69}}{2}</math>. <math>\displaystyle \sqrt{4s^2 + 69}</math> must be an [[integer]], say <math>x</math>. Then <math>4s^2 + 69 = x^2</math> and <math>(x + 2s)(x - 2s) = 69</math>. The factors of <math>69</math> are <math>(1,69), (3,23)</math>; <math>x</math> is maximized for the first case. Thus, <math>x = \frac{69 + 1}{2} = 35</math>, and <math>r = \frac{7 \pm 35}{2} = 21, -14</math>. The latter obviously can be discarded, so there are <math>21</math> rows and <math>21 - 7 = 14</math> columns, making the answer <math>294</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* [[2005 AIME I Problems/Problem 3 | Previous problem]]
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{{AIME box|year=2005|n=I|num-b=3|num-a=5}}
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* [[2005 AIME I Problems/Problem 5 | Next problem]]
 
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* [[2005 AIME I Problems]]
 

Revision as of 14:30, 4 March 2007

Problem

The director of a marching band wishes to place the members into a formation that includes all of them and has no unfilled positions. If they are arranged in a square formation, there are 5 members left over. The director realizes that if he arranges the group in a formation with 7 more rows than columns, there are no members left over. Find the maximum number of members this band can have.

Solution

Solution 1

If $n > 14$ then $n^2 + 6n + 14 < n^2 + 7n < n^2 + 8n + 21$ and so $(n + 3)^2 + 5 < n(n + 7) < (n + 4)^2 + 5$. If $n$ is an integer there are no numbers which are 5 more than a perfect square strictly between $(n + 3)^2 + 5$ and $(n + 4)^2 + 5$. Thus, if the number of columns is $n$, the number of students is $n(n + 7)$ which must be 5 more than a perfect square, so $n \leq 14$. In fact, when $n = 14$ we have $n(n + 7) = 14\cdot 21 = 294 = 17^2 + 5$, so this number works and no larger number can. Thus, the answer is 294.

Solution 2

Define the number of rows/columns of the square formation as $s$, and the number of rows of the rectangular formation $r$ (so there are $r - 7$ columns). Thus, $s^2 + 5 = r(r-7) \Longrightarrow r^2 - 7r - s^2 - 5 = 0$. The quadratic formula yields $r = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{49 - 4(1)(-s - 5)}}{2} = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{4s^2 + 69}}{2}$. $\displaystyle \sqrt{4s^2 + 69}$ must be an integer, say $x$. Then $4s^2 + 69 = x^2$ and $(x + 2s)(x - 2s) = 69$. The factors of $69$ are $(1,69), (3,23)$; $x$ is maximized for the first case. Thus, $x = \frac{69 + 1}{2} = 35$, and $r = \frac{7 \pm 35}{2} = 21, -14$. The latter obviously can be discarded, so there are $21$ rows and $21 - 7 = 14$ columns, making the answer $294$.

See also

2005 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
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All AIME Problems and Solutions
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