Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 378 of 400 #1378 of 1964

Problem 1378

National olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.9 Find the answer

One day, the temperature increases steadily from a low of 45F 45^\circ \text{F} in the early morning to a high of 70F 70^\circ \text{F} in the late afternoon. At how many times from early morning to late afternoon was the temperature an integer in both Fahrenheit and Celsius? Recall that C\equal59(F\minus32) C \equal{} \frac {5}{9}(F \minus{} 32).

The source for this one didn't record the answer, so there is nothing to check what you type against. Work it on paper and mark yourself against the solution below.

Official solution

1. We start with the given temperature conversion formula:
C=59(F32) C = \frac{5}{9}(F - 32)
where F F is the temperature in Fahrenheit and C C is the temperature in Celsius.

2. We need to find integer values of F F such that C C is also an integer. For C C to be an integer, the expression 59(F32) \frac{5}{9}(F - 32) must be an integer. This implies that F32 F - 32 must be a multiple of 9.

3. We are given the range for F F as 45F70 45 \leq F \leq 70 . We need to find the values of F F within this range for which F32 F - 32 is a multiple of 9.

4. Let F32=9k F - 32 = 9k for some integer k k . Then:
F=9k+32 F = 9k + 32

5. We substitute the range of F F into the equation:
459k+3270 45 \leq 9k + 32 \leq 70

6. Subtract 32 from all parts of the inequality:
139k38 13 \leq 9k \leq 38

7. Divide the entire inequality by 9:
139k389 \frac{13}{9} \leq k \leq \frac{38}{9}
1.444k4.222 1.444 \leq k \leq 4.222

8. Since k k must be an integer, the possible values of k k are 2, 3, and 4.

9. We now find the corresponding values of F F :
k=2:F=9(2)+32=18+32=50k=3:F=9(3)+32=27+32=59k=4:F=9(4)+32=36+32=68 \begin{align*} k = 2 & : F = 9(2) + 32 = 18 + 32 = 50 \\ k = 3 & : F = 9(3) + 32 = 27 + 32 = 59 \\ k = 4 & : F = 9(4) + 32 = 36 + 32 = 68 \\ \end{align*}

10. Therefore, the temperature is an integer in both Fahrenheit and Celsius at three different times: when F=50F F = 50^\circ \text{F} , F=59F F = 59^\circ \text{F} , and F=68F F = 68^\circ \text{F} .

The final answer is 3

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