2003 AMC 12B Problem 23

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 23 of the 2003 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:counting integers in a rangefloor and ceiling functionstrigonometry

Difficulty rating: 1950

23.

The number of xx-intercepts on the graph of y=sin(1/x)y = \sin(1/x) in the interval (0.0001,0.001)(0.0001, 0.001) is closest to

29002900

30003000

31003100

32003200

33003300

Solution:

The intercepts occur where 1/x=kπ,1/x = k\pi, that is x=1kπx = \dfrac{1}{k\pi} for a nonzero integer k.k.

The condition 0.0001<1kπ<0.0010.0001 \lt \dfrac{1}{k\pi} \lt 0.001 becomes 1000π<k<10000π. \frac{1000}{\pi} \lt k \lt \frac{10000}{\pi}.

The number of such integers is 10000π1000π=3183318=2865, \left\lfloor \frac{10000}{\pi} \right\rfloor - \left\lfloor \frac{1000}{\pi} \right\rfloor = 3183 - 318 = 2865, closest to 2900.2900.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

Problem 23 in Other Years