Difference between revisions of "1989 AIME Problems/Problem 13"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
Let <math>S^{}_{}</math> be a subset of <math>\{1,2,3^{}_{},\ldots,1989\}</math> such that no two members of <math>S^{}_{}</math> differ by <math>4^{}_{}</math> or <math>7^{}_{}</math>. What is the largest number of elements <math>S^{}_{}</math> can have?
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Let <math>S^{}_{}</math> be a [[subset]] of <math>\{1,2,3^{}_{},\ldots,1989\}</math> such that no two members of <math>S^{}_{}</math> differ by <math>4^{}_{}</math> or <math>7^{}_{}</math>. What is the largest number of [[element]]s <math>S^{}_{}</math> can have?
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
S can have the numbers 1 through 4, but it can't have numbers 5 through 11, because no two numbers can have a difference of 4 or 7. So, 12 through 15 work, but 16 through 22 don't work. So on. Now notice that this list contains only numbers 1 through 4 mod 11. 1989 is 9 mod 11, so 1984 is 4 mod 11. We now have the sequence
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<math>S</math> can have the numbers <math>1</math> through <math>4</math>, but it can't have numbers <math>5</math> through <math>11</math>, because no two numbers can have a difference of <math>4</math> or <math>7</math>. So, <math>12</math> through <math>15</math> work, but <math>16</math> through <math>22</math> don't work, and so on. Now notice that this list contains only numbers <math>1</math> through <math>4 \mod{11}</math>. <math>1989</math> is <math>9 \mod{11}</math>, so <math>1984</math> is <math>4 \mod{11}</math>. We now have the [[sequence]]
  
{4,15,26,...,1984}
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<cmath>\{4,15,26,...,1984\}</cmath>
  
 
We add 7 to each term to get
 
We add 7 to each term to get
  
{11,22,33,...,1991}
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<cmath>\{11,22,33,...,1991\}</cmath>
  
 
We divide by 11 to get
 
We divide by 11 to get
  
{1,2,3,...,181}
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<cmath>\{1,2,3,...,181\}</cmath>
  
So there are 181 numbers 4 mod 11 in S. We multiply by 4 to account for 1, 2, and 3 mod 11:
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So there are 181 numbers <math>4 \pmod{11}</math> in S. We multiply by 4 to account for <math>1, 2</math>, and <math>3</math> <math>\mod{11}</math>: <math>181*4=\boxed{724}</math>.
 
 
<math>181*4=\boxed{724}</math>
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=1989|num-b=12|num-a=14}}
 
{{AIME box|year=1989|num-b=12|num-a=14}}
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[[Category:Intermediate Combinatorics Problems]]
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[[Category:Intermediate Number Theory Problems]]

Revision as of 13:10, 25 November 2007

Problem

Let $S^{}_{}$ be a subset of $\{1,2,3^{}_{},\ldots,1989\}$ such that no two members of $S^{}_{}$ differ by $4^{}_{}$ or $7^{}_{}$. What is the largest number of elements $S^{}_{}$ can have?

Solution

$S$ can have the numbers $1$ through $4$, but it can't have numbers $5$ through $11$, because no two numbers can have a difference of $4$ or $7$. So, $12$ through $15$ work, but $16$ through $22$ don't work, and so on. Now notice that this list contains only numbers $1$ through $4 \mod{11}$. $1989$ is $9 \mod{11}$, so $1984$ is $4 \mod{11}$. We now have the sequence

\[\{4,15,26,...,1984\}\]

We add 7 to each term to get

\[\{11,22,33,...,1991\}\]

We divide by 11 to get

\[\{1,2,3,...,181\}\]

So there are 181 numbers $4 \pmod{11}$ in S. We multiply by 4 to account for $1, 2$, and $3$ $\mod{11}$: $181*4=\boxed{724}$.

See also

1989 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
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