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1992 AIME Problems/Problem 1

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Problem

Find the sum of all positive rational numbers that are less than 10 and that have denominator 30 when written in lowest terms.

Solution

Solution 1

There are 8 fractions which fit the conditions between 0 and 1: \frac{1}{30},\frac{7}{30},\frac{11}{30},\frac{13}{30},\frac{17}{30},\frac{19}{30},\frac{23}{30},\frac{29}{30}

Their sum is 4. Note that there are also 8 terms between 1 and 2 which we can obtain by adding 1 to each of our first 8 terms. For example, 1+\frac{19}{30}=\frac{49}{30}. Following this pattern, our answer is 4(10)+8(1+2+3+\cdots+9)=400.

Solution 2

By Euler's Totient Function, there are 8 numbers that are relatively prime to 30, less than 30. Note that they come in pairs (m,30-m) which result in sums of 1; thus the sum of the smallest 8 rational numbers satisfying this is \frac12\cdot8\cdot1=4. Now refer to solution 1.


1992 AIME (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
First question
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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