2017 AIME I Problem 5

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 5 of the 2017 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2017 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:number baseplace valuecasework

Difficulty rating: 2400

5.

A rational number written in base eight is ab.cd,\underline{a}\,\underline{b}.\underline{c}\,\underline{d}, where all digits are nonzero. The same number in base twelve is bb.ba.\underline{b}\,\underline{b}.\underline{b}\,\underline{a}. Find the base-ten number abc.\underline{a}\,\underline{b}\,\underline{c}.

Solution:

The integer parts must be equal: 8a+b=12b+b,8a + b = 12b + b, so 8a=12b,8a = 12b, that is 2a=3b.2a = 3b. Since aa and bb are nonzero base-eight digits (at most 77), the only options are (a,b)=(3,2)(a, b) = (3, 2) and (6,4).(6, 4).

The fractional parts must also match: c8+d64=b12+a144,\frac{c}{8} + \frac{d}{64} = \frac{b}{12} + \frac{a}{144}, i.e. 8c+d64=12b+a144.\frac{8c + d}{64} = \frac{12b + a}{144}. For (a,b)=(6,4)(a, b) = (6, 4) the right side is 54144=2464,\frac{54}{144} = \frac{24}{64}, forcing 8c+d=24,8c + d = 24, which has no solution with both digits nonzero and less than 8.8. For (a,b)=(3,2)(a, b) = (3, 2) the right side is 27144=1264,\frac{27}{144} = \frac{12}{64}, so 8c+d=12,8c + d = 12, giving c=1c = 1 and d=4.d = 4.

Indeed 32.14eight=22.23twelve,32.14_{\text{eight}} = 22.23_{\text{twelve}}, and the requested number abc\underline{a}\,\underline{b}\,\underline{c} is 321.321.

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