Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2019 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 15"

m (→‎Solution 5 (Arithmetic Sequence))
(→‎Solution 4 (Arithmetic Sequence))
Line 52: Line 52:
 
~Professor-Mom
 
~Professor-Mom
  
−
Note: This is similar to solution #2, although you can notice that the new sequence <math>B</math> actually forms an arithmetic sequence.
+
Note: This is similar to solution #2 and #3, although you can notice that in #2's case the new sequence <math>B</math> actually forms an arithmetic sequence.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 21:59, 5 November 2021

The following problem is from both the 2019 AMC 10A #15 and 2019 AMC 12A #9, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

A sequence of numbers is defined recursively by $a_1 = 1$, $a_2 = \frac{3}{7}$, and \[a_n=\frac{a_{n-2} \cdot a_{n-1}}{2a_{n-2} - a_{n-1}}\]for all $n \geq 3$ Then $a_{2019}$ can be written as $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. What is $p+q ?$

$\textbf{(A) } 2020 \qquad\textbf{(B) } 4039 \qquad\textbf{(C) } 6057 \qquad\textbf{(D) } 6061 \qquad\textbf{(E) } 8078$

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/h9rgKc_YVQ0

Education, the Study of Everything

Video Solution (Meta-Solving Technique)

https://youtu.be/GmUWIXXf_uk?t=39

~ pi_is_3.14

Solution 1 (Induction)

Using the recursive formula, we find $a_3=\frac{3}{11}$, $a_4=\frac{3}{15}$, and so on. It appears that $a_n=\frac{3}{4n-1}$, for all $n$. Setting $n=2019$, we find $a_{2019}=\frac{3}{8075}$, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8078}$.

To prove this formula, we use induction. We are given that $a_1=1$ and $a_2=\frac{3}{7}$, which satisfy our formula. Now assume the formula holds true for all $n\le m$ for some positive integer $m$. By our assumption, $a_{m-1}=\frac{3}{4m-5}$ and $a_m=\frac{3}{4m-1}$. Using the recursive formula, \[a_{m+1}=\frac{a_{m-1}\cdot a_m}{2a_{m-1}-a_m}=\frac{\frac{3}{4m-5}\cdot\frac{3}{4m-1}}{2\cdot\frac{3}{4m-5}-\frac{3}{4m-1}}=\frac{\left(\frac{3}{4m-5}\cdot\frac{3}{4m-1}\right)(4m-5)(4m-1)}{\left(2\cdot\frac{3}{4m-5}-\frac{3}{4m-1}\right)(4m-5)(4m-1)}=\frac{9}{6(4m-1)-3(4m-5)}=\frac{3}{4(m+1)-1},\] so our induction is complete.

Solution 2

Since we are interested in finding the sum of the numerator and the denominator, consider the sequence defined by $b_n = \frac{1}{a_n}$.

We have $\frac{1}{a_n} = \frac{2a_{n-2}-a_{n-1}}{a_{n-2} \cdot a_{n-1}}=\frac{2}{a_{n-1}}-\frac{1}{a_{n-2}}$, so in other words, $b_n = 2b_{n-1}-b_{n-2}=3b_{n-2}-2b_{n-3}=4b_{n-3}-3b_{n-4}=\dots$.

By recursively following this pattern, we can see that $b_n=(n-1) \cdot b_2 - (n-2) \cdot b_1$.

By plugging in 2019, we thus find $b_{2019} = 2018 \cdot \frac{7}{3}-2017 = \frac{8075}{3}$. Since the numerator and the denominator are relatively prime, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 8078}$.

-eric2020

Solution 3

It seems reasonable to transform the equation into something else. Let $a_{n}=x$, $a_{n-1}=y$, and $a_{n-2}=z$. Therefore, we have \[x=\frac{zy}{2z-y}\] \[2xz-xy=zy\] \[2xz=y(x+z)\] \[y=\frac{2xz}{x+z}\] Thus, $y$ is the harmonic mean of $x$ and $z$. This implies $a_{n}$ is a harmonic sequence or equivalently $b_{n}=\frac{1}{a_{n}}$ is arithmetic. Now, we have $b_{1}=1$, $b_{2}=\frac{7}{3}$, $b_{3}=\frac{11}{3}$, and so on. Since the common difference is $\frac{4}{3}$, we can express $b_{n}$ explicitly as $b_{n}=\frac{4}{3}(n-1)+1$. This gives $b_{2019}=\frac{4}{3}(2019-1)+1=\frac{8075}{3}$ which implies $a_{2019}=\frac{3}{8075}=\frac{p}{q}$. $p+q=\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 8078}$ ~jakeg314

Solution 4 (Arithmetic Sequence)

Notice that\[a_n = \frac{1}{\frac{2}{a_{n-1}} - \frac{1}{a_{n-2}}}.\]Therefore,\[\frac{1}{a_n} = \frac{2}{a_{n-1}} - \frac{1}{a_{n-2}}, \ \ \implies \ \ \frac{\frac{1}{a_n} + \frac{1}{a_{n-2}}}{2} = \frac{1}{a_{n-1}}.\]Therefore, the sequence $b_n = \frac{1}{a_n}$ is an arithmetic sequence. Notice that the common diffrence of $b$ is $\frac{4}{3},$ and therefore\[b_{2019} = b_1 + 2018 \bigg(\frac{5}{3}\bigg) = 1 + 2018 \bigg(\frac{4}{3} \bigg) = \frac{8075}{3}.\]Therefore, we see that $a_{2019} = \frac{3}{8075},$ so that $p + q = \boxed{\text{(E) } 8078}.$

~Professor-Mom

Note: This is similar to solution #2 and #3, although you can notice that in #2's case the new sequence $B$ actually forms an arithmetic sequence.

See Also

2019 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 14 		Followed by
Problem 16
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
2019 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 8 		Followed by
Problem 10
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 12 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2019_AMC_10A_Problems/Problem_15&oldid=164700"