Question

The lengths of the sides of a triangle with positive area are $\log_{10} 12,$ $\log_{10} 75,$ and $\log_{10} n,$ where $n$ is a positive integer. Find the number of possible values for $n.$

Answer

Answer: 893

Concepts:triangle inequality logarithm

Difficulty rating: 1890

Solution:

The triangle inequality requires $\log n \lt \log 12 + \log 75 = \log 900$ and $\log 12 + \log n \gt \log 75,$ that is $\log n \gt \log 75 - \log 12 = \log \frac{25}{4}.$ The remaining inequality, $\log 75 + \log n \gt \log 12,$ is automatic because $n \ge 1$ and $75 \gt 12.$

So $\frac{25}{4} \lt n \lt 900,$ which for integers means $7 \le n \le 899.$ That gives $899 - 7 + 1 = 893$ possible values of $n.$

2006 AIME II Problem 2

Answer: 893

Difficulty rating: 1890

Solution:

Problem 2 in Other Years