2001 AMC 10 Problems/Problem 11

Problem

Consider the dark square in an array of unit squares, part of which is shown. The first ring of squares around this center square contains $8$ unit squares. The second ring contains $16$ unit squares. If we continue this process, the number of unit squares in the $100^\text{th}$ ring is

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$\textbf{(A)}\ 396 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 404 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 800 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 10,\!000 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 10,\!404$

Solution

Solution 1

We can partition the $n^\text{th}$ ring into $4$ rectangles: two containing $2n+1$ unit squares and two containing $2n-1$ unit squares.

There are $2(2n+1)+2(2n-1)=4n+2+4n-2=8n$ unit squares in the $n^\text{th}$ ring.

Thus, the $100^\text{th}$ ring has $8 \times 100 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }800}$ unit squares.

Solution 2

We can make the $n^\text{th}$ ring by removing a square of side length $2n-1$ from a square of side length $2n+1$ .

This ring contains $(2n+1)^2-(2n-1)^2=(4n^2+4n+1)-(4n^2-4n+1)=8n$ unit squares.

Thus, the $100^\text{th}$ ring has $8 \times 100 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 800}$ unit squares.

Solution 3 (Less Rigorous)

Notice that the first ring around the center square contains $8$ unit squares, the second ring contains $16$ unit squares, the third contains $24$ unit squares, and so on. The number of squares in the $n^\text{th}$ ring is determined by the expression $8 \times n$ . Thus, the number of unit squares in the $100^\text{th}$ ring is equal to $8 \times 100$ , which equals $\boxed{\textbf{(C) }800}$ unit squares.

-Darth_Cadet

2001 AMC 10 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 10	Followed by Problem 12
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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