2021 AMC 12B Fall Problem 25

Attempt Problem 25 of the 2021 AMC 12B Fall 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 2021 AMC 12B Fall solutions, or check the answer key.

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

25.

For nn a positive integer, let R(n)R(n) be the sum of the remainders when nn is divided by 2,2, 3,3, 4,4, 5,5, 6,6, 7,7, 8,8, 9,9, and 10.10. For example, R(15)=1+0+3+0+3+1+7+6+5=26. \begin{aligned} &R(15) = 1 + 0 + 3 + 0 + 3 \\ &\quad {}+ 1 + 7 + 6 + 5 = 26. \end{aligned} How many two-digit positive integers nn satisfy R(n)=R(n+1)?R(n) = R(n + 1)?
00
11
22
33
44
Answer: C
Concepts:modular arithmeticdivisibility
Small hint:
When nn increases by 1,1, each remainder rises by 11 unless n+1n+1 is divisible by m,m, where it drops to 00
Big hint:
R(n+1)−R(n)R(n+1) - R(n) =9−∑m∣n+1m,= 9 - \sum_{m \mid n+1} m, so you need the divisors of n+1n+1 among 2,…,102, \ldots, 10 to sum to 99
Solution:
Going from nn to n+1,n + 1, each remainder n mod mn \bmod m increases by 11 unless n+1n + 1 is divisible by m,m, in which case it drops from m−1m - 1 to 0.0. So R(n+1)−R(n)=9−∑2≤m≤10m∣n+1m. \begin{aligned} &R(n+1) - R(n) \\ &= 9 - \sum_{\substack{2 \le m \le 10 \\ m \mid n+1}} m. \end{aligned}
Distinct integers from 22 through 1010 can sum to 99 only as {9},{2,7},{3,6},{4,5},\{9\},\{2,7\},\{3,6\},\{4,5\}, or {2,3,4}.\{2,3,4\}. Divisibility closure eliminates every case except {2,7}:\{2,7\}: for example, a multiple of 99 also has divisor 3,3, and a multiple of 66 also has divisors 22 and 3.3. Thus n+1n+1 must be a multiple of 1414 with no other divisor in {2,…,10}.\{2,\ldots,10\}.
Testing the multiples 14,28,42,56,70,84,9814,28,42,56,70,84,98 in the required range leaves only 1414 and 98.98. Hence n=13n=13 or n=97,n=97, giving 22 values.
Thus, the correct answer is C.
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