Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 14"

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===Solution 4===
 
===Solution 4===
As in Solution 1, we have the sum of the <math>4</math> numbers to be equal to <math>4n + 12</math>. Taking mod 8 gives us <math>4n + 4 \equiv b \pmod8</math> for some residue <math>b</math> and for some odd integer <math>n</math>. Since <math>n \equiv 1 \pmod{2}</math>, we can express it as the equation <math>n = 2a + 1</math> for some integer <math>a</math>. Multiplying 4 to each side of the equation yields <math>4n = 8a + 4</math>, and taking mod 8 gets us <math>4n \equiv 4 \pmod{8}</math>, so <math>b = 4</math>. All the answer choices except choice D is a multiple of 8, and since 100 satisfies all the conditions the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)}~100}</math>.
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From Solution 1, we have the sum of the <math>4</math> numbers to be equal to <math>4n + 12</math>. Taking mod 8 gives us <math>4n + 4 \equiv b \pmod8</math> for some residue <math>b</math> and for some odd integer <math>n</math>. Since <math>n \equiv 1 \pmod{2}</math>, we can express it as the equation <math>n = 2a + 1</math> for some integer <math>a</math>. Multiplying 4 to each side of the equation yields <math>4n = 8a + 4</math>, and taking mod 8 gets us <math>4n \equiv 4 \pmod{8}</math>, so <math>b = 4</math>. All the answer choices except choice D is a multiple of 8, and since 100 satisfies all the conditions the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)}~100}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 00:35, 31 January 2016

Which of the following integers cannot be written as the sum of four consecutive odd integers?

$\textbf{(A)}\text{ 16}\quad\textbf{(B)}\text{ 40}\quad\textbf{(C)}\text{ 72}\quad\textbf{(D)}\text{ 100}\quad\textbf{(E)}\text{ 200}$

Solution 1

Let our $4$ numbers be $n, n+2, n+4, n+6$, where $n$ is odd. Then our sum is $4n+12$. The only answer choice that cannot be written as $4n+12$, where $n$ is odd, is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\text{ 100}}$.

Solution 2

If the four consecutive odd integers are $2n-3,~ 2n-1, ~2n+1$ and $2n+3$ then the sum is $8n$. All the integers are divisible by $8$ except $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}~100}$.

Solution 3

If the four consecutive odd integers are $a,~ a+2, ~a+4$ and $a+6$, the sum is $4a+12$, and $4a+12$ divided by $4$ gives $a+3$. This means that $a+3$ must be even. The only integer that does not give an even integer when divided by $4$ is $100$, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}~100}$.

Solution 4

From Solution 1, we have the sum of the $4$ numbers to be equal to $4n + 12$. Taking mod 8 gives us $4n + 4 \equiv b \pmod8$ for some residue $b$ and for some odd integer $n$. Since $n \equiv 1 \pmod{2}$, we can express it as the equation $n = 2a + 1$ for some integer $a$. Multiplying 4 to each side of the equation yields $4n = 8a + 4$, and taking mod 8 gets us $4n \equiv 4 \pmod{8}$, so $b = 4$. All the answer choices except choice D is a multiple of 8, and since 100 satisfies all the conditions the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}~100}$.

See Also

2015 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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