Question

The number $5^{867}$ is between $2^{2013}$ and $2^{2014}.$ How many pairs of integers $(m,n)$ are there such that $1\le m\le2012$ and $5^n\lt2^m\lt2^{m+2}\lt5^{n+1}?$

$278$

$279$

$280$

$281$

$282$

Solution:

Because $2^2\lt5\lt2^3,$ each interval $(5^n,5^{n+1})$ contains either two or three powers of $2.$ The chain $5^n\lt2^m\lt2^{m+2}\lt5^{n+1}$ holds exactly when the interval contains three consecutive powers of $2,$ and then there is a unique such $m.$

Let $d$ and $t$ be the numbers of intervals $(5^n,5^{n+1})$ for $0\le n\le866$ containing two and three powers of $2,$ respectively. Since $2^{2013}\lt5^{867}\lt2^{2014}$ there are $2013$ powers of $2$ in total, giving $d+t=867$ and $2d+3t=2013.$

Solving, $t=2013-2\cdot867=279.$

Thus, the correct answer is B.

2014 AMC 12A Problem 22

Solution:

Problem 22 in Other Years