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CEMC Gauss (Grade 7), 2017

Algebra Difficulty 1.3 Junior Find the answer Canada

When n=101n=101, which of the following expressions has an even value?

Pick one

Solution

When n=101n=101:

3namp;=3×101=303n+2amp;=101+2=103n−12amp;=101−12=892n−2amp;=2×101−2=202−2=2003n+2amp;=3×101+2=303+2=305.\begin{aligned} 3n&=3\times101=303\\ n+2&=101+2=103\\ n-12&=101-12=89\\ 2n-2&=2\times101-2=202-2=200\\ 3n+2&=3\times101+2=303+2=305.\end{aligned} Of the expressions given, 2n−22n-2 is the only expression which has an even value when n=101n=101.

(In fact, the value of 2n−22n-2 is an even integer for every integer nn. Can you see why?)

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