2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 12

Problem

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A number of linked rings, each 1 cm thick, are hanging on a peg. The top ring has an outside diameter of 20 cm. The outside diameter of each of the outer rings is 1 cm less than that of the ring above it. The bottom ring has an outside diameter of 3 cm. What is the distance, in cm, from the top of the top ring to the bottom of the bottom ring?

$\mathrm{(A) \ } 171\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } 173\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 182\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } 188\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } 210$

Solution

The inside diameters of the rings are the positive integers from 1 to 18. The total distance needed is the sum of these values plus 2 for the top of the first ring and the bottom of the last ring. Using the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series, the answer is $\frac{18 \cdot 19}{2} + 2 = 173 \Rightarrow \mathrm{(B)}$ .

Alternatively, the sum of the consecutive integers from 3 to 20 is $\frac{1}{2}(18)(3+20) = 207$ . However, the 17 intersections between the rings must be subtracted, and we also get $207 - 2(17) = 173$ .

2006 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 11	Followed by Problem 13
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
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2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 12

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