Question 3

The integers 1, 2, …, 40 are written on a blackboard. The following operation is then repeated 39 times: In each repetition, any two numbers, say a and b, currently on the blackboard are erased and a new number a + b - 1 is written. What will be the number left on the board at the end?

Name: The integers 1, 2, …, 40 are written on a blackboard. The following operation is then repeated 39 times: In each repetition, any two numbers, say a and b, currently on the blackboard are erased and a new number a + b - 1 is written. What will be the number left on the board at the end?
Uploaded: Feb. 26, 2024, 5:05 p.m.
Duration: 2 min 50 s
Description: The integers 1, 2, …, 40 are written on a blackboard. The following operation is then repeated 39 times: In each repetition, any two numbers, say a and b, currently on the blackboard are erased and a new number a + b - 1 is written. What will be the number left on the board at the end?

Solution

Let the first operation be (1+40-1) = 40, the second operation be (2+39-1) = 40 and so on

So, after 20 operations, all the numbers are 40. After 10 more operations, all the numbers are 79

Proceeding this way, the last remaining number will be 781

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