2002 AMC 10B Problem 23

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 23 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.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:functional equationtelescopingtriangular number

Difficulty rating: 1510

23.

Let {ak}\{a_k\} be a sequence of integers such that a1=1a_1 = 1 and am+n=am+an+mna_{m+n} = a_m + a_n + mn for all positive integers mm and n.n. What is a12?a_{12}?

4545

5656

6767

7878

8989

Solution:

Setting n=1,n = 1, we get am+1=am+a1+m=am+(m+1),a_{m+1} = a_m + a_1 + m = a_m + (m + 1), so am+1am=m+1.a_{m+1} - a_m = m + 1.

Summing from m=1m = 1 to 11,11, a12a1=2+3++12=121321=77.a_{12} - a_1 = 2 + 3 + \cdots + 12 = \dfrac{12\cdot 13}{2} - 1 = 77.

Therefore a12=1+77=78.a_{12} = 1 + 77 = 78.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 23 in Other Years