2013 AIME I Problem 8

Attempt Problem 8 of the 2013 AIME I below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2013 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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8.

The domain of the function f(x)=arcsin(logm(nx))f(x) = \arcsin(\log_m(nx)) is a closed interval of length 12013,\frac{1}{2013}, where mm and nn are positive integers and m>1.m \gt 1. Find the remainder when the smallest possible sum m+nm + n is divided by 1000.1000.

Answer: 371
Concepts:functionlogarithmdivisibility
Difficulty rating: 2560
Solution:

The function is defined when 1logm(nx)1,-1 \le \log_m(nx) \le 1, that is 1mnxm,\frac{1}{m} \le nx \le m, so the domain is [1mn,mn],\left[\frac{1}{mn}, \frac{m}{n}\right], with length mn1mn=m21mn=12013.\frac{m}{n} - \frac{1}{mn} = \frac{m^2 - 1}{mn} = \frac{1}{2013}. Hence n=2013(m21)m.n = \frac{2013(m^2 - 1)}{m}. Since mm is relatively prime to m21,m^2 - 1, mm must divide 2013=31161.2013 = 3 \cdot 11 \cdot 61.

Because n2013m,n \approx 2013m, the sum m+nm + n grows with m,m, so take the smallest factor m=3:m = 3: then n=201383=5368n = \frac{2013 \cdot 8}{3} = 5368 and m+n=5371.m + n = 5371.

The remainder upon division by 10001000 is 371.371.

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