1997 AIME Problem 2

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 2 of the 1997 AIME, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1997 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:counting shapes in figurescombinationssum of first n squares

Difficulty rating: 1890

2.

The nine horizontal and nine vertical lines on an 8×88 \times 8 checkerboard form rr rectangles, of which ss are squares. The number s/rs/r can be written in the form m/n,m/n, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

A rectangle is determined by choosing two of the nine horizontal lines and two of the nine vertical lines, so r=(92)2=362=1296.r = \binom{9}{2}^2 = 36^2 = 1296.

A k×kk \times k square can be placed in (9k)2(9 - k)^2 positions, so s=k=18(9k)2=82+72++12=89176=204.s = \sum_{k=1}^{8} (9 - k)^2 = 8^2 + 7^2 + \cdots + 1^2 = \frac{8 \cdot 9 \cdot 17}{6} = 204.

Then sr=2041296=17108,\frac{s}{r} = \frac{204}{1296} = \frac{17}{108}, which is in lowest terms, so m+n=17+108=125.m + n = 17 + 108 = 125.

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