2025 AMC 10B Problem 15

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 15 of the 2025 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2025 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:partial fractionstelescoping

Difficulty rating: 1600

15.

The sum

k=11k3+6k2+8k\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{k^3 + 6k^2 + 8k}

can be expressed as ab,\dfrac{a}{b}, where aa and bb are relatively prime positive integers. What is a+b?a + b?

8989

9797

102102

107107

129129

Solution:

Factor k3+6k2+8k=k(k+2)(k+4),k^3 + 6k^2 + 8k = k(k + 2)(k + 4), then split into partial fractions: 1k(k+2)(k+4)=1/8k1/4k+2+1/8k+4.\dfrac{1}{k(k + 2)(k + 4)} = \dfrac{1/8}{k} - \dfrac{1/4}{k + 2} + \dfrac{1/8}{k + 4}. Summing over all k,k, the coefficient of 1n\tfrac1n cancels for n5,n \ge 5, so only the first few terms survive: 18(1+121314)=181112=1196.\tfrac18\left(1 + \tfrac12 - \tfrac13 - \tfrac14\right) = \tfrac18 \cdot \tfrac{11}{12} = \tfrac{11}{96}. So a+b=11+96=107.a + b = 11 + 96 = 107. Thus, D is the correct answer.

Problem 15 in Other Years