AMC 10 Step by Step

2005 AMC 10A Problem 22

P21-25~4 minPrint

Let SS be the set of the 20052005 smallest positive multiples of 44 , and let TT be the set of the 20052005 smallest positive multiples of 66 . How many elements are common to SS and TT ?

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Key insight

Common numbers are multiples of 12. S stops at 4 times 2005 = 8020, which is lower than where T stops, so count the multiples of 12 up to 8020.

Solution

A number is in both sets only if it is a multiple of both 44 and 66. The smallest number that is a multiple of both is 1212, so the common numbers are multiples of 1212. The question is how far up they can go.

1. Where does each set stop?
- SS is 4,8,12,…4, 8, 12, \ldots, and its last number is 4×2005=80204 \times 2005 = 8020.
- TT is 6,12,18,…6, 12, 18, \ldots, and its last number is 6×2005=120306 \times 2005 = 12030.
2. Which multiples of 1212 are in both? A multiple of 1212 up to 80208020 is a multiple of 44 no bigger than 80208020, so it is in SS. It is also a multiple of 66 no bigger than 1203012030, so it is in TT. A multiple of 1212 above 80208020 is not in SS. So the smaller stopping point, 80208020, is the one that matters.
3. Count multiples of 1212 up to 80208020. 8020÷12=6688020 \div 12 = 668 with remainder 44, since 12×668=801612 \times 668 = 8016. So there are 668668 of them.

Another way to see step 3: in SS, the number 4k4k is a multiple of 1212 exactly when kk is a multiple of 33. Among k=1,2,…,2005k = 1, 2, \ldots, 2005 there are 668668 multiples of 33, because 3×668=20043 \times 668 = 2004.

The answer is (D) 668\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 668}.

Why this works

"The 20052005 smallest multiples of 44" just means "multiples of 44 from 44 up to 80208020." Turn each set into a range with a clear top, then count the shared multiples (multiples of the least common multiple) up to the lower top. The lower top always decides the count.

Concise solution

A shorter write-up, the way contest solutions are usually written. It may take a different route from the solution above.

A number lies in both sets only if it is a multiple of both 44 and 66, i.e. a multiple of lcm⁡(4,6)=12\operatorname{lcm}(4,6) = 12.

Now find how far each set reaches. S={4,8,…,4⋅2005}S = \{4, 8, \dots, 4 \cdot 2005\} ends at 80208020; T={6,12,…,6⋅2005}T = \{6, 12, \dots, 6 \cdot 2005\} ends at 1203012030. Every multiple of 1212 up to 80208020 is a multiple of 44 below SS's cap and a multiple of 66 below TT's cap, so it is in both sets; multiples of 1212 beyond 80208020 are missing from SS.

So the common elements are the multiples of 1212 up to 80208020:
⌊802012⌋=668(12⋅668=8016).\left\lfloor \frac{8020}{12} \right\rfloor = 668 \quad (12 \cdot 668 = 8016).
Equivalently, every third element of SS (4k4k with 3∣k3 \mid k) is a multiple of 1212, and ⌊2005/3⌋=668\lfloor 2005/3 \rfloor = 668.

The answer is (D) 668\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 668}.

Review in the AoPS books

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Problem © Mathematical Association of America (MAA), American Mathematics Competitions. Reproduced for non-commercial educational use. Solution and commentary are original to this site.