Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 12"

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We have <math>5! = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 \cdot 5</math>, and <math>2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9! = 10 \cdot 9! = 10!</math>. Therefore the equation becomes <math>3 \cdot 4 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!</math>, and so <math>12 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!</math>. Cancelling the <math>12</math>s, it is clear that <math>N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}</math>.
 
We have <math>5! = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 \cdot 5</math>, and <math>2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9! = 10 \cdot 9! = 10!</math>. Therefore the equation becomes <math>3 \cdot 4 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!</math>, and so <math>12 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!</math>. Cancelling the <math>12</math>s, it is clear that <math>N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}</math>.
  
==Solution 2 (variation of Solution 1)==
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==Solution 2 (variant of Solution 1)==
 
Since <math>5! = 120</math>, we obtain <math>120\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!</math>, which becomes <math>12\cdot 10\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!</math> and thus <math>12 \cdot 10!=12\cdot N!</math>. We therefore deduce <math>N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}</math>.
 
Since <math>5! = 120</math>, we obtain <math>120\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!</math>, which becomes <math>12\cdot 10\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!</math> and thus <math>12 \cdot 10!=12\cdot N!</math>. We therefore deduce <math>N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}</math>.
  

Revision as of 07:55, 20 November 2020

Problem

For a positive integer $n$, the factorial notation $n!$ represents the product of the integers from $n$ to $1$. (For example, $6! = 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 1$.) What value of $N$ satisfies the following equation? \[5!\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!\]

$\textbf{(A) }10\qquad\textbf{(B) }11\qquad\textbf{(C) }12\qquad\textbf{(D) }13\qquad\textbf{(E) }14\qquad$

Solution 1

We have $5! = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 \cdot 5$, and $2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9! = 10 \cdot 9! = 10!$. Therefore the equation becomes $3 \cdot 4 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!$, and so $12 \cdot 10! = 12 \cdot N!$. Cancelling the $12$s, it is clear that $N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}$.

Solution 2 (variant of Solution 1)

Since $5! = 120$, we obtain $120\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!$, which becomes $12\cdot 10\cdot 9!=12\cdot N!$ and thus $12 \cdot 10!=12\cdot N!$. We therefore deduce $N=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}$.

Solution 3 (using answer choices)

We can see that the answers $\textbf{(B)}$ to $\textbf{(E)}$ contain a factor of $11$, but there is no such factor of $11$ in $5! \cdot 9!$. Therefore, the answer must be $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }10}$.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/9k59v-Fr3aE

See also

2020 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 11
Followed by
Problem 13
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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