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For any natural number kk, let ak=3ka_k = 3^k. The smallest natural number mm for which {(a1)1×(a2)2×…×(a20)20}<{a21×a22×…×a(20+m)}\{(a_1)^1 \times (a_2)^2 \times \ldots \times (a_{20})^{20}\} < \{a_{21} \times a_{22} \times \ldots \times a_{(20+m)}\}, is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 3

Given ak=3ka_k = 3^k, so a1=3,a2=9,a3=27,…a_1 = 3, a_2 = 9, a_3 = 27, \ldots

We need the smallest natural number mm such that:

(a1)1⋅(a2)2⋅(a3)3⋯(a20)20<a21⋅a22⋯a20+m(a_1)^1 \cdot (a_2)^2 \cdot (a_3)^3 \cdots (a_{20})^{20} < a_{21} \cdot a_{22} \cdots a_{20+m}


Since ak=3ka_k = 3^k, each term on the LHS becomes:

(ak)k=(3k)k=3k2(a_k)^k = (3^k)^k = 3^{k^2}

So LHS =312⋅322⋅332⋯3202= 3^{1^2} \cdot 3^{2^2} \cdot 3^{3^2} \cdots 3^{20^2}

=312+22+32+⋯+202= 3^{1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + \cdots + 20^2}

Using the formula ∑k=1nk2=n(n+1)(2n+1)6\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{n} k^2 = \dfrac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}:

12+22+⋯+202=20×21×416=28701^2 + 2^2 + \cdots + 20^2 = \dfrac{20 \times 21 \times 41}{6} = 2870

So LHS =32870= 3^{2870}


Each term on the RHS is a20+i=320+ia_{20+i} = 3^{20+i}, where ii goes from 11 to mm.

RHS =321⋅322⋯320+m= 3^{21} \cdot 3^{22} \cdots 3^{20+m}

=321+22+⋯+(20+m)= 3^{21 + 22 + \cdots + (20+m)}

=3∑i=1m(20+i)= 3^{\sum_{i=1}^{m}(20+i)}

=320m+m(m+1)2= 3^{20m + \frac{m(m+1)}{2}}


The inequality becomes:

32870<320m+m(m+1)23^{2870} < 3^{20m + \frac{m(m+1)}{2}}

Since the base 3>13 > 1, the exponents follow the same inequality:

2870<20m+m(m+1)22870 < 20m + \dfrac{m(m+1)}{2}

5740<40m+m(m+1)5740 < 40m + m(m+1)

5740<m2+41m5740 < m^2 + 41m

m2+41m−5740>0m^2 + 41m - 5740 > 0


Using the quadratic formula with m2+41m−5740=0m^2 + 41m - 5740 = 0:

m=−41+412+4×57402m = \dfrac{-41 + \sqrt{41^2 + 4 \times 5740}}{2}

=−41+1681+229602= \dfrac{-41 + \sqrt{1681 + 22960}}{2}

=−41+246412= \dfrac{-41 + \sqrt{24641}}{2}

=−41+156.99…2= \dfrac{-41 + 156.99\ldots}{2}

≈1162=58\approx \dfrac{116}{2} = 58


Checking m=57m = 57: 572+41(57)=3249+2337=5586<574057^2 + 41(57) = 3249 + 2337 = 5586 < 5740 (does not satisfy)

Checking m=58m = 58: 582+41(58)=3364+2378=5742>574058^2 + 41(58) = 3364 + 2378 = 5742 > 5740 (satisfies)

The smallest natural number mm is 58\boxed{58}.

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