2003 AIME II Problem 8

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 8 of the 2003 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:arithmetic sequencequadraticsystem of equations

Difficulty rating: 2340

8.

Find the eighth term of the sequence 1440,1440, 1716,1716, 1848,,1848, \ldots, whose terms are formed by multiplying the corresponding terms of two arithmetic sequences.

Solution:

The nnth term of an arithmetic sequence is linear in n,n, so the product of corresponding terms of two arithmetic sequences is a quadratic tn=an2+bn+c.t_n = an^2 + bn + c. Indexing the given terms by n=0,1,2:n = 0, 1, 2: c=1440,a+b+c=1716,4a+2b+c=1848,c = 1440, \qquad a + b + c = 1716, \qquad 4a + 2b + c = 1848, which give a+b=276a + b = 276 and 2a+b=204,2a + b = 204, so a=72,a = -72, b=348,b = 348, c=1440.c = 1440.

The eighth term is t7=7249+3487+1440=348.t_7 = -72 \cdot 49 + 348 \cdot 7 + 1440 = 348. (Indeed tn=(18024n)(8+3n),t_n = (180 - 24n)(8 + 3n), a product of two arithmetic sequences matching the given terms.)

← Problem 7Full ExamProblem 9

Problem 8 in Other Years