2002 AMC 10B Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2002 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:Diophantine Equationdivisibilityperfect square

Difficulty rating: 1580

16.

For how many integers nn is n20n\dfrac{n}{20 - n} the square of an integer?

11

22

33

44

1010

Solution:

Suppose n20n=k2\dfrac{n}{20 - n} = k^2 for some integer k0.k \ge 0. Solving, n=20k2k2+1.n = \dfrac{20k^2}{k^2 + 1}.

Since k2k^2 and k2+1k^2 + 1 share no common factor, k2+1k^2 + 1 must divide 20.20. This happens only for k=0,1,2,3,k = 0, 1, 2, 3, giving k2+1=1,2,5,10.k^2 + 1 = 1, 2, 5, 10.

The corresponding values n=0,10,16,18n = 0, 10, 16, 18 are all integers, so there are 44 such n.n.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 16 in Other Years