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Difference between revisions of "2024 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 15"

m (→‎Solution 2a (perhaps more clear): oops 3\neq5)
(sol 2's process is slightly better than 2a's, so combining the justification for 2a and the process for 2 makes sense =D also, I wonder who the reader of this message is! 1434 hehehehhehehhe he he he eh eh eh e)
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==Solution 2 (not rigorously proven)==
 
==Solution 2 (not rigorously proven)==
  
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We assume that when the maximum values are achieved, the two squares are consecutive squares. However, since both have the same parity, the closest we can get to this is that they are 1 square apart.  
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Ideally, we would like for the two squares to be as close as possible. The best case is that they are consecutive squares (no square numbers in between them); however, since <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> (and thus their squares) have the same parity, they cannot be consecutive squares (which are always opposite parities). The best we can do is that <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> have one square in between them.  
  
 
Let the square between <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> be <math>x^2</math>. So, we have <math>M+1213 = (x-1)^2</math> and <math>M+3773 = (x+1)^2</math>. Subtracting the two, we have <math>(M+3773)-(M+1213) = (x+1)^2 - (x-1)^2</math>, which yields <math>2560 = 4x</math>, which leads to <math>x = 640</math>. Therefore, the two squares are <math>639^2</math> and <math>641^2</math>, which both have units digit <math>1</math>. Since both <math>1213</math> and <math>3773</math> have units digit <math>3</math>, <math>M</math> will have units digit <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}</math>.
 
Let the square between <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> be <math>x^2</math>. So, we have <math>M+1213 = (x-1)^2</math> and <math>M+3773 = (x+1)^2</math>. Subtracting the two, we have <math>(M+3773)-(M+1213) = (x+1)^2 - (x-1)^2</math>, which yields <math>2560 = 4x</math>, which leads to <math>x = 640</math>. Therefore, the two squares are <math>639^2</math> and <math>641^2</math>, which both have units digit <math>1</math>. Since both <math>1213</math> and <math>3773</math> have units digit <math>3</math>, <math>M</math> will have units digit <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}</math>.
  
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~i_am_suk_at_math_2
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~i_am_suk_at_math_2 (parity argument editing by Technodoggo)
−
 
 
−
===Solution 2a (perhaps more clear)===
 
−
 
 
−
Ideally, <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> are close squares. We would want them to be consecutive squares (squares of consecutive numbers), but <math>M+1213</math> and <math>M+3773</math> are of the same parity (and so are their squares) while consecutive squares are always opposite parity, so this is impossible. The next-best option is <math>M+1213=N^2</math> and <math>M+3773=(N+2)^2</math>; the latter expands into <math>M+3773=N^2+4N+4</math>, and subtracting the former from this result, we see that <math>2560=4N+4\implies N=639</math>. Then <math>M+1213=639^2\implies M+1213\equiv639^2\pmod{10}\implies M+3\equiv9^2\pmod{10}\implies M\equiv\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}\pmod{10}</math>.
 
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~Technodoggo
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 18:00, 8 November 2024

The following problem is from both the 2024 AMC 10A #15 and 2024 AMC 12A #9, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Let $M$ be the greatest integer such that both $M+1213$ and $M+3773$ are perfect squares. What is the units digit of $M$?

$\textbf{(A) }1\qquad\textbf{(B) }2\qquad\textbf{(C) }3\qquad\textbf{(D) }6\qquad\textbf{(E) }8$

Solution 1

Let $M+1213=P^2$ and $M+3773=Q^2$ for some positive integers $P$ and $Q.$ We subtract the first equation from the second, then apply the difference of squares: \[(Q+P)(Q-P)=2560.\] Note that $Q+P$ and $Q-P$ have the same parity, and $Q+P>Q-P.$

We wish to maximize both $P$ and $Q,$ so we maximize $Q+P$ and minimize $Q-P.$ It follows that \begin{align*} Q+P&=1280, \\ Q-P&=2, \end{align*} from which $(P,Q)=(639,641).$

Finally, we get $M=P^2-1213=Q^2=3773\equiv1-3\equiv8\pmod{10},$ so the units digit of $M$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM ~Tacos_are_yummy_1

Solution 2 (not rigorously proven)

Ideally, we would like for the two squares to be as close as possible. The best case is that they are consecutive squares (no square numbers in between them); however, since $M+1213$ and $M+3773$ (and thus their squares) have the same parity, they cannot be consecutive squares (which are always opposite parities). The best we can do is that $M+1213$ and $M+3773$ have one square in between them.

Let the square between $M+1213$ and $M+3773$ be $x^2$. So, we have $M+1213 = (x-1)^2$ and $M+3773 = (x+1)^2$. Subtracting the two, we have $(M+3773)-(M+1213) = (x+1)^2 - (x-1)^2$, which yields $2560 = 4x$, which leads to $x = 640$. Therefore, the two squares are $639^2$ and $641^2$, which both have units digit $1$. Since both $1213$ and $3773$ have units digit $3$, $M$ will have units digit $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }8}$.

~i_am_suk_at_math_2 (parity argument editing by Technodoggo)

See also

2024 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
2024 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

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