2025 AIME II Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 2025 AIME II 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 2025 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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4.

The product ∏k=463log⁡k(5k2−1)log⁡k+1(5k2−4)=log⁡4(515)log⁡5(512)⋅log⁡5(524)log⁡6(521)⋅log⁡6(535)log⁡7(532)⋯log⁡63(53968)log⁡64(53965) \begin{gathered} \prod_{k=4}^{63} \frac{\log_k (5^{k^2 - 1})}{\log_{k+1} (5^{k^2 - 4})} \\ = \frac{\log_4 (5^{15})}{\log_5 (5^{12})} \\ \quad {}\cdot \frac{\log_5 (5^{24})}{\log_6 (5^{21})} \\ \quad {}\cdot \frac{\log_6 (5^{35})}{\log_7 (5^{32})} \\ \quad \cdots \frac{\log_{63} (5^{3968})}{\log_{64} (5^{3965})} \end{gathered} is equal to mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 106
Concepts:logarithmtelescoping
Difficulty rating: 2300
Small Hint:

By change of base, each factor equals k2−1k2−4⋅log⁡(k+1)log⁡k\frac{k^2-1}{k^2-4} \cdot \frac{\log(k+1)}{\log k}

Big Hint:

Factor k2−1=(k−1)(k+1)k^2 - 1 = (k-1)(k+1) and k2−4=(k−2)(k+2);k^2 - 4 = (k-2)(k+2); everything telescopes

Solution:

By the change-of-base formula, log⁡k(5k2−1)=(k2−1)log⁡5log⁡k,\log_k (5^{k^2-1}) = \frac{(k^2 - 1)\log 5}{\log k}, so each factor of the product equals k2−1log⁡kk2−4log⁡(k+1)=(k−1)(k+1)(k−2)(k+2)⋅log⁡(k+1)log⁡k. \begin{gathered} \frac{\frac{k^2-1}{\log k}}{\frac{k^2-4}{\log(k+1)}} \\ = \frac{(k-1)(k+1)}{(k-2)(k+2)} \\ \quad {}\cdot \frac{\log(k+1)}{\log k}. \end{gathered}

All three pieces telescope over k=4,…,63:k = 4, \ldots, 63: ∏k=463k−1k−2=622=31,\prod_{k=4}^{63} \frac{k-1}{k-2} = \frac{62}{2} = 31, ∏k=463k+1k+2=565=113,\prod_{k=4}^{63} \frac{k+1}{k+2} = \frac{5}{65} = \frac{1}{13}, ∏k=463log⁡(k+1)log⁡k=log⁡64log⁡4=3. \begin{gathered} \prod_{k=4}^{63} \frac{\log(k+1)}{\log k} \\ = \frac{\log 64}{\log 4} = 3. \end{gathered}

The product is 31⋅113⋅3=9313,31 \cdot \frac{1}{13} \cdot 3 = \frac{93}{13}, which is in lowest terms, so m+n=93+13=106.m + n = 93 + 13 = 106.

Problem 3#3
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