Difference between revisions of "2024 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 20"

(Problem)
(Problem)
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==Problem==
 
==Problem==
Let <math>S</math> be a subset of <math>\{1, 2, 3, \dots, 2024\}</math> such that the following two conditions hold: T\linebreak<math>
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Let <math>S</math> be a subset of <math>\{1, 2, 3, \dots, 2024\}</math> such that the following two conditions hold: <math>\linebreak</math>
* If </math>x<math> and </math>y<math> are distinct elements of </math>S<math>, then </math>|x-y| > 2<math>  
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* If <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> are distinct elements of <math>S</math>, then <math>|x-y| > 2</math>  
* If </math>x<math> and </math>y<math> are distinct odd elements of </math>S<math>, then </math>|x-y| > 6<math>.
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* If <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> are distinct odd elements of <math>S</math>, then <math>|x-y| > 6</math>.
What is the maximum possible number of elements in </math>S<math>?
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What is the maximum possible number of elements in <math>S</math>?
  
</math>
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<math>
 
\textbf{(A) }436 \qquad
 
\textbf{(A) }436 \qquad
 
\textbf{(B) }506 \qquad
 
\textbf{(B) }506 \qquad
 
\textbf{(C) }608 \qquad
 
\textbf{(C) }608 \qquad
 
\textbf{(D) }654 \qquad
 
\textbf{(D) }654 \qquad
\textbf{(E) }675 \qquad$
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\textbf{(E) }675 \qquad</math>
  
 
==Video Solution by Scholars Foundation==
 
==Video Solution by Scholars Foundation==

Revision as of 17:26, 9 November 2024

Problem

Let $S$ be a subset of $\{1, 2, 3, \dots, 2024\}$ such that the following two conditions hold: $\linebreak$

  • If $x$ and $y$ are distinct elements of $S$, then $|x-y| > 2$
  • If $x$ and $y$ are distinct odd elements of $S$, then $|x-y| > 6$.

What is the maximum possible number of elements in $S$?

$\textbf{(A) }436 \qquad \textbf{(B) }506 \qquad \textbf{(C) }608 \qquad \textbf{(D) }654 \qquad \textbf{(E) }675 \qquad$

Video Solution by Scholars Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKOqZau--5w&t=1s

Solution 1

All lists are organized in ascending order:

By listing out the smallest possible elements of subset $S,$ we can find that subset $S$ starts with $\{1, 4, 8, 11, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31, \dots\}.$ It is easily noticed that the elements of the subset "loop around" every 3 elements, specifically adding 10 each time. This means that there will be $2024/10$ or $202R4$ whole loops in the subset $S,$ implying that there will be $202*3 = 606$ elements in S. However, we have undercounted, as we did not count the remainder that resulted from $2024/10$$.$ With a remainder of $4,$ we can fit $2$ more elements into the subset $S,$ namely $2021$ and $2024,$ resulting in a total of $606+2$ or $\boxed{\textbf{(C) }608}$ elements in subset $S$.


NOTE:

To prove that this is the best we can do, consider adding each element one by one, for the first element, say n. If n is greater than 2, we can choose n - 2 which is always better. Therefore, n = 1 or n = 2.

If n = 2 was optimal, then choose it, then the set of usable numbers in $S$ becomes 5 through 2024. We can transform the usable set of $S$ to $Q$ where $Q$ contains the numbers 1 through 2020. Because we assumed n = 2 was optimal, we can choose n = 2 for the set $Q$ too. Because every element in $Q$ is 4 below the elements of $S$, choosing 2 in $Q$ would mean choosing 6 in set $S$. By induction we see that our list would be {2,6,10,14,18,.....2022} which only gives 506 elements which is sub-optimal. Therefore, we can conclude that n = 1 is optimal, and we proceed as the solution above.

$-weihou0

Video Solution by Pi Academy

https://youtu.be/fW7OGWee31c?si=oq7toGPh2QaksLHE


See also

2024 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
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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