Difference between revisions of "2024 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 11"

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~tsun26
 
~tsun26
  
==See also==
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==Solution 3==
{{AMC12 box|year=2024|ab=B|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
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[[Image: 2024_AMC_12B_P11.jpeg|thumb|center|600px|]]
 
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~Kathan
{{MAA Notice}}
 

Revision as of 13:49, 14 November 2024

Problem

Let $x_n = \sin^2(n^{\circ})$. What is the mean of $x_1,x_2,x_3,\dots,x_{90}$?

$\textbf{(A) } \frac{11}{45} \qquad\textbf{(B) } \frac{22}{45} \qquad\textbf{(C) } \frac{89}{180} \qquad\textbf{(D) } \frac{1}{2} \qquad\textbf{(E) } \frac{91}{180}$

Solution 1

Add up $x_1$ with $x_{89}$, $x_2$ with $x_{88}$, and $x_i$ with $x_{90-i}$. Notice \[x_i+x_{90-i}=\sin^2(i^{\circ})+\sin^2((90-i)^{\circ})=\sin^2(i^{\circ})+\cos^2(i^{\circ})=1\] by the Pythagorean identity. Since we can pair up $1$ with $89$ and keep going until $44$ with $46$, we get \[x_1+x_2+\dots+x_{90}=44+x_{45}+x_{90}=44+(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2+1^2=\frac{91}{2}\] Hence the mean is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{91}{180}}$

~kafuu_chino

Solution 2

We can add a term $x_0$ into the list, and the total sum of the terms won't be affected since $x_0=0$. Once $x_0$ is added into the list, the average of the $91$ terms is clearly $\frac{1}{2}$. Hence the total sum of the terms is $\frac{91}{2}$. To get the average of the original $90$, we merely divide by $90$ to get $\frac{91}{180}$. Hence the mean is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{91}{180}}$

~tsun26

Solution 3

2024 AMC 12B P11.jpeg

~Kathan