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2005 AMC 10A Problem 21

Problem 21 of 25HarderAlgebraNumber Theory

For how many positive integers nn does 1+2++n1 + 2 + \cdots + n evenly divide 6n?6n?

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Solution

Since 1+2++n=n(n+1)2,1 + 2 + \cdots + n = \dfrac{n(n+1)}{2}, the quotient is 6nn(n+1)2=12n+1,\dfrac{6n}{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}} = \dfrac{12}{n+1}, which is an integer exactly when n+1n + 1 divides 12.12. The divisors of 1212 that are at least 22 are 2,2, 3,3, 4,4, 6,6, 12,12, giving n=1,n = 1, 2,2, 3,3, 5,5, 1111 — five values. Thus, the correct answer is B.

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Concepts: triangular number · divisibility · factor

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