2021 AMC 10A Spring Problem 8

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 8 of the 2021 AMC 10A Spring, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 10A Spring solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:repeating decimalgeometric sequence

Difficulty rating: 1370

8.

When a student multiplied the number 6666 by the repeating decimal, 1.a b a b=1.a b,\underline{1}.\underline{a} \ \underline{b} \ \underline{a} \ \underline{b}\ldots=\underline{1}.\overline{\underline{a} \ \underline{b}}, where aa and bb are digits, he did not notice the notation and just multiplied 6666 times 1.a b.\underline{1}.\underline{a} \ \underline{b}. Later he found that his answer is 0.50.5 less than the correct answer. What is the 22-digit number a b?\underline{a} \ \underline{b}?

1515

3030

4545

6060

7575

Video solution:
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Written solution:

We can express 1.a b\underline{1}.\overline{\underline{a} \ \underline{b}} as an infinite geometric sum: 1.a b=1+.a b+.00 a b+ \underline{1}.\overline{\underline{a} \ \underline{b}} = 1 + .\underline{a} \ \underline{b} + .00 \ \underline{a} \ \underline{b} + \cdots We can therefore use the formula for the sum of a geometric sum: S=first term1ratio=.a b11100 S = \dfrac{\text{first term}}{1 - \text{ratio}} = \dfrac{.\underline{a} \ \underline{b}}{1 - \dfrac{1}{100}} =10099(.a b)=a b99. = \dfrac{100}{99} \left(. \underline{a}\ \underline{b}\right) = \dfrac{\underline{a}\ \underline{b}}{99}. We also know that 1.a b=1+a b100 1. \underline{a}\ \underline{b} = 1 + \dfrac{\underline{a}\ \underline{b}}{100}

Then 66(1+a b100)+.5=66(1+a b99)66100a b+.5=6699a b1150a b=.5a b=75. \begin{align*} 66\left(1 + \dfrac{\underline{a}\ \underline{b}}{100}\right) + .5 &= 66\left(1 + \dfrac{\underline{a}\ \underline{b}}{99}\right) \\ \dfrac{66}{100}\underline{a}\ \underline{b} + .5 &= \dfrac{66}{99}\underline{a}\ \underline{b} \\ \dfrac{1}{150}\underline{a}\ \underline{b} &= .5 \\ \underline{a}\ \underline{b} &= 75. \end{align*}

Thus, E is the correct answer.

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