2020 AMC 10B Problem 24

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 24 of the 2020 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:floor and ceiling functionsquadraticinequality

Difficulty rating: 2250

24.

How many positive integers nn satisfy n+100070=n?\dfrac{n+1000}{70} = \lfloor \sqrt{n} \rfloor?

(Recall that x\lfloor x\rfloor is the greatest integer not exceeding x.x.)

22

44

66

3030

3232

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Let k=n.k=\left\lfloor\sqrt n\right\rfloor. The equation gives n=70k1000n=70k-1000. Also, by the definition of the floor function, k2n<(k+1)2.k^2\le n<(k+1)^2. Substituting n=70k1000n=70k-1000, we get k270k1000<(k+1)2.k^2\le 70k-1000<(k+1)^2.

The left inequality is k270k+10000(k20)(k50)0,k^2-70k+1000\le0\quad\Longrightarrow\quad (k-20)(k-50)\le0, so 20k5020\le k\le50. The right inequality is 70k1000<k2+2k+1k268k+1001>0.70k-1000<k^2+2k+1\quad\Longrightarrow\quad k^2-68k+1001>0. The roots of k268k+1001k^2-68k+1001 are 34±15534\pm\sqrt{155}, which are approximately 21.5521.55 and 46.4546.45. Thus, together with 20k5020\le k\le50, the possible integer values are k=20,21,47,48,49,50.k=20,21,47,48,49,50. There are 66 such values.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

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