2002 AMC 12B Problem 13

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 13 of the 2002 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:perfect squarearithmetic sequence

Difficulty rating: 1430

13.

The sum of 1818 consecutive positive integers is a perfect square. The smallest possible value of this sum is

169169

225225

289289

361361

441441

Solution:

The sum of n,n, n+1,,n+1,\ldots, n+17n+17 is 18n+17182=9(2n+17).18n+\dfrac{17\cdot18}{2}=9(2n+17). Since 99 is a perfect square, 2n+172n+17 must be one too.

The smallest positive integer nn making 2n+172n+17 a perfect square is n=4,n=4, giving 2n+17=252n+17=25 and a sum of 925=225.9\cdot25=225.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 13 in Other Years