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2000 AMC 10 Problem 11

Problem 11 of 25IntermediateAlgebraNumber Theory

Two different prime numbers between 44 and 1818 are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?

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Solution

The primes between 44 and 1818 are 5,5, 7,7, 11,11, 13,13, and 17.17. The product of two of them is odd and the sum is even, so xy(x+y)xy - (x + y) is odd. Since xy(x+y)xy - (x + y) =(x1)(y1)1= (x - 1)(y - 1) - 1 increases as either prime increases, the result ranges from 5712=235 \cdot 7 - 12 = 23 up to 131730=191.13 \cdot 17 - 30 = 191. The only odd option in [23,191][23, 191] is 119=1113(11+13).119 = 11 \cdot 13 - (11 + 13). Thus, the correct answer is C.

More practice

Concepts: prime · parity · bounding to limit cases

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.