2002 AMC 12B Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 2002 AMC 12B 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 2002 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

4.

Let nn be a positive integer such that 12+13+17+1n\dfrac12+\dfrac13+\dfrac17+\dfrac1n is an integer. Which of the following statements is not true:
22 divides nn
33 divides nn
66 divides nn
77 divides nn
n>84n\gt84
Answer: E
Concepts:fractiondivisibilitybounding to limit cases
Small hint:
12+13+17=4142\dfrac12+\dfrac13+\dfrac17=\dfrac{41}{42}
Big hint:
The whole sum lies strictly between 00 and 2,2, so it must equal 11; solve for nn
Solution:
Since 12+13+17=4142,\dfrac12+\dfrac13+\dfrac17=\dfrac{41}{42}, the sum 4142+1n\dfrac{41}{42}+\dfrac1n lies strictly between 00 and 2,2, so it must equal 1.1. Then 1n=142,\dfrac1n=\dfrac1{42}, giving n=42.n=42.
Now 2,2, 3,3, 6,6, and 77 all divide 42,42, but n>84n\gt84 is false. The untrue statement is n>84.n\gt84.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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