2002 AIME I Problem 4

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 4 of the 2002 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:telescopingpartial fractionsDiophantine Equation

Difficulty rating: 2110

4.

Consider the sequence defined by ak=1k2+ka_k = \frac{1}{k^2 + k} for k1.k \ge 1. Given that am+am+1++an1=129,a_m + a_{m+1} + \cdots + a_{n-1} = \frac{1}{29}, for positive integers mm and nn with m<n,m \lt n, find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

Since 1k2+k=1k(k+1)=1k1k+1,\frac{1}{k^2 + k} = \frac{1}{k(k + 1)} = \frac{1}{k} - \frac{1}{k + 1}, the sum telescopes: am+am+1++an1=1m1n=129.a_m + a_{m+1} + \cdots + a_{n-1} = \frac{1}{m} - \frac{1}{n} = \frac{1}{29}.

Multiplying through by 29mn29mn gives 29n29m=mn,29n - 29m = mn, which rearranges to (29m)(29+n)=292.(29 - m)(29 + n) = 29^2. Since 2929 is prime and 29+n>29,29 + n \gt 29, the only factorization with mm a positive integer is 29m=129 - m = 1 and 29+n=841,29 + n = 841, so m=28m = 28 and n=812.n = 812.

Therefore m+n=28+812=840.m + n = 28 + 812 = 840.

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