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Algebra Difficulty 3.7 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

The sequences {an}\{a_{n}\} and {bn}\{b_{n}\} are both arithmetic sequences, with their sums of the first nn terms being SnS_{n} and TnT_{n}, respectively. If SnTn=3n+1n+3\frac{S_n}{T_n}=\frac{3n+1}{n+3}, then a2+a20b7+b15=\frac{a_2+a_{20}}{b_7+b_{15}}=______, and the number of values of nn for which anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} is an integer is ______.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

To solve the problem, we need to understand the properties of arithmetic sequences and how they apply to the given sequences {an}\{a_{n}\} and {bn}\{b_{n}\}.

### Part 1: Finding a2+a20b7+b15\frac{a_2+a_{20}}{b_7+b_{15}}

Given that {an}\{a_{n}\} and {bn}\{b_{n}\} are arithmetic sequences, we can use the property that the average of any two terms equidistant from the beginning and end of a finite arithmetic sequence is equal to the average of the first and last term. Therefore, we have:

a2+a20b7+b15=a1+a21b1+b21 \frac{a_2+a_{20}}{b_7+b_{15}} = \frac{a_1+a_{21}}{b_1+b_{21}}

Since the sum of the first nn terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by SnS_n for {an}\{a_{n}\} and TnT_n for {bn}\{b_{n}\}, we can express the sum of the first 21 terms as 2S212S_{21} for {an}\{a_{n}\} and 2T212T_{21} for {bn}\{b_{n}\}, because the sum of an arithmetic sequence can also be expressed as nn times the average of its first and last term. Therefore:

a2+a20b7+b15=21(a1+a21)21(b1+b21)=2S212T21=3×21+121+3=6424=83 \frac{a_2+a_{20}}{b_7+b_{15}} = \frac{21(a_1+a_{21})}{21(b_1+b_{21})} = \frac{2S_{21}}{2T_{21}} = \frac{3\times21+1}{21+3} = \frac{64}{24} = \frac{8}{3}

Hence, 83\boxed{\frac{8}{3}}.

### Part 2: Finding the Number of Values of nn for Which anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} is an Integer

To find when anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} is an integer, we start by expressing anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} in terms of the sums of the sequences:

anbn=2an2bn=a1+a2n1b1+b2n1=(2n1)(a1+a2n1)(2n1)(b1+b2n1)=2S2n12T2n1=3(2n1)+12n+2=6n22n+2=3n1n+1 \frac{a_n}{b_n} = \frac{2a_n}{2b_n} = \frac{a_1+a_{2n-1}}{b_1+b_{2n-1}} = \frac{(2n-1)(a_1+a_{2n-1})}{(2n-1)(b_1+b_{2n-1})} = \frac{2S_{2n-1}}{2T_{2n-1}} = \frac{3(2n-1)+1}{2n+2} = \frac{6n-2}{2n+2} = \frac{3n-1}{n+1}

Simplifying further, we get:

anbn=3(n+1)4n+1=34n+1 \frac{a_n}{b_n} = \frac{3(n+1)-4}{n+1} = 3-\frac{4}{n+1}

For anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} to be an integer, the fraction 4n+1\frac{4}{n+1} must also be an integer. This implies that n+1n+1 must be a divisor of 44. Considering n+12n+1 \geqslant 2, the possible values for n+1n+1 are 22 and 44, leading to n=1n = 1 and n=3n = 3.

Therefore, the number of values of nn for which anbn\frac{a_n}{b_n} is an integer is 2\boxed{2}.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.