Difference between revisions of "1981 AHSME Problems/Problem 16"

 
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==Solution 1==
 
==Solution 1==
Every <math>2</math> digits in base <math>3</math> corresponds to <math>1</math> digit in base <math>9</math>.  
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Since <math>9=3^2</math>, every <math>2</math> digits in base <math>3</math> corresponds to <math>1</math> digit in base <math>9</math>.  
Since this number is <math>20</math> digits long, which is an even number of digits, the answer must correspond to the first <math>2</math> digits on the left. So the answer is <math>12_{3} = 1 \cdot 3 + 2 = 5\ \fbox{(E)}.  
+
Since this number is <math>20</math> digits long, which is an even number of digits, the answer must correspond to the first <math>2</math> digits on the left. So the answer is <math>12_{3} = 1 \cdot 3 + 2 = 5\ \fbox{(E)}</math>.
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-edited by coolmath34, j314andrews
  
 
==Solution 2 (Long Way)==
 
==Solution 2 (Long Way)==
Convert </math>x<math> to base 10 then convert the result to base 9.
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Convert <math>x</math> to base 10 then convert the result to base 9.
 
<cmath>12112211122211112222_{3} = 2150029898</cmath>
 
<cmath>12112211122211112222_{3} = 2150029898</cmath>
  
 
<cmath>2150029898 = 5484584488_{9}</cmath>
 
<cmath>2150029898 = 5484584488_{9}</cmath>
  
Therefore, the answer is </math> \textbf{(E)}\ 5.<math>
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Therefore, the answer is <math> \textbf{(E)}\ 5.</math>
  
 
-edited by coolmath34
 
-edited by coolmath34
 
==Solution (Faster Way)==
 
Every 2 numbers in base 3 represents 1 number in base 9.
 
The first 2 numbers on the left,12 = 1(3) + 2(1) = 5.
 
 
So the answer is </math> \textbf{(E)}\ 5.$
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Latest revision as of 14:09, 28 June 2025

Problem

The base three representation of $x$ is \[12112211122211112222\] The first digit (on the left) of the base nine representation of $x$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5$

Solution 1

Since $9=3^2$, every $2$ digits in base $3$ corresponds to $1$ digit in base $9$. Since this number is $20$ digits long, which is an even number of digits, the answer must correspond to the first $2$ digits on the left. So the answer is $12_{3} = 1 \cdot 3 + 2 = 5\ \fbox{(E)}$.

-edited by coolmath34, j314andrews

Solution 2 (Long Way)

Convert $x$ to base 10 then convert the result to base 9. \[12112211122211112222_{3} = 2150029898\]

\[2150029898 = 5484584488_{9}\]

Therefore, the answer is $\textbf{(E)}\ 5.$

-edited by coolmath34

See also

1981 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
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 26 27 28 29 30
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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