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Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 10P Problems/Problem 2"

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We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem.
 
We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem.
  
Let the first integer equal a. The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math> Plugging in <math>n=11, a_1=a,</math> and <math>a_n=a+10</math> into <math>\frac{n(a_1 + a_n)}{2}=2002,</math> we get:
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Let the first integer equal <math>a.</math> The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math> Plugging in <math>n=11, a_1=a,</math> and <math>a_n=a+10</math> into <math>\frac{n(a_1 + a_n)}{2}=2002,</math> we get:
  
 
\begin{align*}
 
\begin{align*}
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2a&=354 \\
 
2a&=354 \\
 
a&=177\\
 
a&=177\\
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\end{align*}
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Thus, our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B) }177}</math>
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== Solution 2 ==
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We can directly add everything up since <math>1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10</math> is so little.
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Similar to the first solution, let the first integer equal <math>a.</math> The last integer in this string will be <math>a+10.</math>
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\begin{align*}
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a + (a + 1) + (a + 2) + \; \dots \; + (a + 10) &= 2002 \\
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11a + (1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10) &= 2002 \\
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11a + 55 &= 2002 \\
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11a &= 1947 \\
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a &= \frac{1947}{11} \\
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a &= 177 \\
 
\end{align*}
 
\end{align*}
  
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{{AMC10 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2002|ab=P|num-b=1|num-a=3}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
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[[Category: Introductory Algebra Problems]]

Latest revision as of 20:39, 15 October 2025

Problem 2

The sum of eleven consecutive integers is $2002.$ What is the smallest of these integers?

$\text{(A) }175 \qquad \text{(B) }177 \qquad \text{(C) }179 \qquad \text{(D) }180 \qquad \text{(E) }181$

Solution 1

We can use the sum of an arithmetic series to solve this problem.

Let the first integer equal $a.$ The last integer in this string will be $a+10.$ Plugging in $n=11, a_1=a,$ and $a_n=a+10$ into $\frac{n(a_1 + a_n)}{2}=2002,$ we get:

\begin{align*} \frac{11(a + a+10)}{2}&=2002 \\ 11(2a+10)&=4004 \\ 2a+10&=364 \\ 2a&=354 \\ a&=177\\ \end{align*}

Thus, our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }177}$

Solution 2

We can directly add everything up since $1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10$ is so little.

Similar to the first solution, let the first integer equal $a.$ The last integer in this string will be $a+10.$

\begin{align*} a + (a + 1) + (a + 2) + \; \dots \; + (a + 10) &= 2002 \\ 11a + (1 + 2 + \; \dots \; + 10) &= 2002 \\ 11a + 55 &= 2002 \\ 11a &= 1947 \\ a &= \frac{1947}{11} \\ a &= 177 \\ \end{align*}

Thus, our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }177}$

See Also

2002 AMC 10P (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 1
Followed by
Problem 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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