2005 AMC 10A Problem 22
Let be the set of the smallest positive multiples of , and let be the set of the smallest positive multiples of . How many elements are common to and ?
Show solution without answering
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 and . The smallest number that is a multiple of both is , so the common numbers are multiples of . The question is how far up they can go.
1. Where does each set stop?
- is , and its last number is .
- is , and its last number is .
2. Which multiples of are in both? A multiple of up to is a multiple of no bigger than , so it is in . It is also a multiple of no bigger than , so it is in . A multiple of above is not in . So the smaller stopping point, , is the one that matters.
3. Count multiples of up to . with remainder , since . So there are of them.
Another way to see step 3: in , the number is a multiple of exactly when is a multiple of . Among there are multiples of , because .
The answer is .
Why this works
"The smallest multiples of " just means "multiples of from up to ." 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 and , i.e. a multiple of .
Now find how far each set reaches. ends at ; ends at . Every multiple of up to is a multiple of below 's cap and a multiple of below 's cap, so it is in both sets; multiples of beyond are missing from .
So the common elements are the multiples of up to :
Equivalently, every third element of ( with ) is a multiple of , and .
The answer is .
Review in the AoPS books
- Introduction to Number Theory, Chapter 3: Multiples and Divisors (§3.3, §3.4, §3.7)
- Introduction to Counting & Probability, Chapter 1: Counting Is Arithmetic
- Introduction to Number Theory, Chapter 4: Prime Factorization (§4.7)
- Introduction to Counting & Probability, Chapter 2: Basic Counting Techniques
Similar problems
Problem © Mathematical Association of America (MAA), American Mathematics Competitions. Reproduced for non-commercial educational use. Solution and commentary are original to this site.