2020 AMC 10A Problem 17

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 17 of the 2020 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:polynomialinequalitycounting integers in a range

Difficulty rating: 1660

17.

Define P(x)=(x12)(x22)(x1002)\begin{align*} P(x) =&(x-1^2)(x-2^2)\\&\cdots(x-100^2) \end{align*} How many integers nn are there such that P(n)0?P(n)\leq 0?

49004900

49504950

50005000

50505050

51005100

Video solution:
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Written solution:

The polynomial changes sign at each square 12,22,,10021^2,2^2,\ldots,100^2, and its leading coefficient is positive. Thus P(n)0P(n)\le0 for integers in the intervals [12,22][1^2,2^2], [32,42][3^2,4^2], \ldots, [992,1002][99^2,100^2].

For odd kk, the interval [k2,(k+1)2][k^2,(k+1)^2] contains (k+1)2k2+1=2k+2(k+1)^2-k^2+1=2k+2 integers. Summing over odd k=1,3,,99k=1,3,\ldots,99 gives 2(1+3++99)+250=5000+100=51002(1+3+\cdots+99)+2\cdot50=5000+100=5100. Thus, E is the correct answer.

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