2009 AMC 8 Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2009 AMC 8 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 2009 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

5.

A sequence of numbers starts with 1,1, 2,2, and 3.3. The fourth number of the sequence is the sum of the previous three numbers in the sequence: 1+2+3=6.1 + 2 + 3 = 6. In the same way, every number after the fourth is the sum of the previous three numbers. What is the eighth number in the sequence?
1111
2020
3737
6868
9999
Answer: D
Concepts:recursion
Small hint:
Generate the sequence one term at a time.
Big hint:
Each new term is the sum of the previous three terms.
Solution:
The sequence begins 1,1, 2,2, 3.3.
The next terms are 1+2+3=6,1+2+3=6, 2+3+6=11,2+3+6=11, 3+6+11=20,3+6+11=20, 6+11+20=37,6+11+20=37, and 11+20+37=68.11+20+37=68.
Thus, D is the correct answer.
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