2015 AMC 10A Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2015 AMC 10A 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 2015 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

Consider the set of all fractions xy,\dfrac{x}{y}, where xx and yy are relatively prime positive integers. How many of these fractions have the property that if both numerator and denominator are increased by 1,1, the value of the fraction is increased by 10%?10\%?

00

11

22

33

infinitely many\text{infinitely many}

Answer: B
Concepts:Diophantine EquationSimon’s Favorite Factoring Trickfraction
Difficulty rating: 1860
Solution:

The condition is x+1y+1=1110xy.\frac{x+1}{y+1}=\frac{11}{10}\cdot\frac{x}{y}. Cross-multiplying gives 10y(x+1)=11x(y+1)10y(x+1)=11x(y+1), or xy+11x10y=0xy+11x-10y=0.

Factoring by grouping after subtracting 110110 gives (x10)(y+11)=110.(x-10)(y+11)=-110. Since x,yx,y are positive, the useful negative factor pairs are (1,110)(-1,110), (2,55)(-2,55), and (5,22)(-5,22), producing (x,y)=(9,99),(8,44),(5,11)(x,y)=(9,99),(8,44),(5,11).

Only 511\frac{5}{11} has relatively prime numerator and denominator, so exactly one fraction works.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

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