2009 AMC 10A Problem 9 — Solution | LIVE by Po-Shen Loh

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2009 AMC 10A Problem 9

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 9 of the 2009 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 10A 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:geometric sequence prime factorization

Difficulty rating: 1240

9.

Positive integers $a,$ $b,$ and $2009,$ with $a \lt b \lt 2009,$ form a geometric sequence with an integer ratio. What is $a?$

$7$

$41$

$49$

$287$

$2009$

Solution:

Let the common ratio be $r.$ Then $a r^2 = 2009 = 7^2 \cdot 41.$

Since $r$ must be an integer greater than $1,$ the only possibility is $r = 7,$ giving $a = 41$ and the sequence $41, 287, 2009.$

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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