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2005 PMWC Problems/Problem I3

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Problem

Let x be a fraction between \frac{35}{36} and \frac{91}{183}. If the denominator of x is 455 and the numerator and denominator have no common factor except 1, how many possible values are there for x?

Solution

We let x=\frac{y}{455}.

We find the ranges for y, disregarding the restriction that y must be relatively prime with 455.

\frac{91}{183}\leq \frac{y}{455}

183y\geq 91*455=41405, y\geq 227.

36y\leq 35*455=15925, y\leq 441

Since y must be relatively prime to 455, it cannot have any prime factors equal to any in 455=5*7*13. Thus we use the Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion and complementary counting:

There are 43 multiples of 5 in that range.

There are 31 multiples of 7 in that range.

There are 16 multiples of 13 in that range.

There are 6 multiples of 7*5=35 in that range.

There are 3 multiples of 5*13=65 in that range.

There are 2 multiples of 7*13=91 in that range.

There aren't any multiples of 455 in that range.

43+31+16-6-3-2+0=79

Now there are 441-227+1=215 numbers total, so subtracting the unsuccessful numbers(79) from that we get \boxed{136} possible values of x.

See also

2005 PMWC (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem I2
Followed by
Problem I4
I: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
T: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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