2022 AMC 10B Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2022 AMC 10B 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 2022 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

Let SnS_n be the sum of the first nn terms of an arithmetic sequence that has a common difference of 2.2. The quotient S3nSn\dfrac{S_{3n}}{S_n} does not depend on n.n. What is S20?S_{20}?

340 340

360 360

380 380

400 400

420 420

Answer: D
Concepts:arithmetic sequencesummation
Difficulty rating: 1820
Solution:

Write the nnth term as a+2n,a+2n, so the term before the first term is a.a. Then Sn=i=1n(a+2i)=n(a+n+1).\begin{aligned}S_n&=\sum_{i=1}^n(a+2i)\\&=n(a+n+1).\end{aligned}

Hence S3nSn=3(a+3n+1)a+n+1=96(a+1)a+n+1. \begin{aligned} \frac{S_{3n}}{S_n}&=\frac{3(a+3n+1)}{a+n+1}\\ &=9-\frac{6(a+1)}{a+n+1}. \end{aligned}

For this expression to be independent of n,n, its numerator 6(a+1)6(a+1) in the final fraction must be 0.0. Thus a=1.a=-1.

Therefore, S20=20(1+20+1)=400.S_{20}=20(-1+20+1)=400.

Thus, the answer is D .

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