AlgebraDifficulty 5.0AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem: Suppose m and n are positive integers for which - the sum of the first m multiples of n is 120, and - the sum of the first m3 multiples of n3 is 4032000. Determine the sum of the first m2 multiples of n2.
Solution
Solution: For any positive integers a and b, the sum of the first a multiples of b is b+2b+⋯+ab=b(1+2+⋯+a)=2a(a+1)b. Thus, the conditions imply m(m+1)n=240 and m3(m3+1)n3=8064000, whence m3+1(m+1)3=m3(m3+1)n3(m(m+1)n)3=80640002403=712 Thus, we have 7(m+1)2=12(m2−m+1) or 5m2−26m+5=0, so m=5 and therefore n=8. The answer is 2m2(m2+1)n2=20800.
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