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2000 AMC 12 Problems/Problem 16

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Problem

A checkerboard of 13 rows and 17 columns has a number written in each square, beginning in the upper left corner, so that the first row is numbered 1,2,\ldots,17, the second row 18,19,\ldots,34, and so on down the board. If the board is renumbered so that the left column, top to bottom, is 1,2,\ldots,13,, the second column 14,15,\ldots,26 and so on across the board, some squares have the same numbers in both numbering systems. Find the sum of the numbers in these squares (under either system).

\text {(A)}\ 222 \qquad \text {(B)}\ 333\qquad \text {(C)}\ 444 \qquad \text {(D)}\ 555 \qquad \text {(E)}\ 666

Solution

Let (x,y) denote the square in row x \ge 1 and column y \ge 1. Under the first ordering this square would have a value of 17(x-1) + y. Under the second ordering this square would have a value of 13(y-1) + x. Equating, 17x-17 + y = 13y-13+x \Longrightarrow 16x = 12y + 4 \Longrightarrow 4x = 3y + 1. The pairs that fit this equation are (1,1),(4,5),(7,9),(10,13),(13,17); their corresponding values sum up to 1 + 56 + 111 + 166 + 221 = 555\ \mathrm{(D)}.

See also

2000 AMC 12 (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
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