Problem:
Suppose
2+1+2+3+x211=53144
What is the value of x ?
Answer Choices:
A. 43
B. 87
C. 1514
D. 3837
E. 5352
Solution:
Subtracting 2 from both sides and taking reciprocals gives 1+2+3+x21=3853. Subtracting 1 from both sides and taking reciprocals again gives 2+3+x2=1538. Subtracting 2 from both sides and taking reciprocals for the final time gives 2x+3=815 or x= (A) 43.
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions