2012 AMC 12A Problem 25

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25.

Let f(x)=2{x}1f(x) = |2\{x\} - 1| where {x}\{x\} denotes the fractional part of x.x. The number nn is the smallest positive integer such that the equation nf(xf(x))=xnf(xf(x)) = x has at least 20122012 real solutions x.x. What is n?n?

Note: the fractional part of xx is a real number y={x},y = \{x\}, such that 0y<10 \le y \lt 1 and xyx - y is an integer.

3030

3131

3232

6262

6464

Answer: C
Concepts:floor and ceiling functionscounting intersections
Difficulty rating: 2720
Solution:

Since 0f(x)1,0 \le f(x) \le 1, every solution lies in [0,n].[0,n]. The function ff is a triangular wave of period 1.1. Put g(x)=xf(x).g(x)=xf(x). For each integer a1,a\ge1, the function gg decreases from aa to 00 on [a,a+12),[a,a+\tfrac12), while it increases from 00 to a+1a+1 on [a+12,a+1).[a+\tfrac12,a+1). The first interval [0,12)[0,\tfrac12) is exceptional, but it contributes no intersection with y=x/n.y=x/n.

Counting the oscillations, on the intervals [a,a+12)[a, a + \tfrac12) and [a+12,a+1)[a + \tfrac12, a+1) the curve y=f(g(x))y = f(g(x)) meets the line y=xny = \tfrac{x}{n} a total of 2a2a and 2(a+1)2(a+1) times. Summing over a=0,,n1a = 0, \ldots, n-1 gives a=0n1(2a+2(a+1))=2n2\sum_{a=0}^{n-1}\bigl(2a + 2(a+1)\bigr) = 2n^2 real solutions.

The smallest nn with 2n220122n^2 \ge 2012 is n=32,n = 32, since 2312=19222 \cdot 31^2 = 1922 and 2322=2048.2 \cdot 32^2 = 2048.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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