Finding Numbers Divisible by 3 or 7 Between 1 and 200 Using Inclusion-Exclusion Principle

Finding Numbers Divisible by 3 or 7 Between 1 and 200 Using Inclusion-Exclusion Principle

In this article, we will explore how to determine the count of numbers between 1 and 200 that are evenly divisible by 3 or 7. We will use the principle of inclusion-exclusion, a fundamental concept in combinatorics, to accurately calculate this count. This method will provide a clear and concise solution to the problem.

Understanding the Problem

We start by breaking down the problem into simpler parts. We need to find the number of integers between 1 and 200 that are divisible by either 3 or 7. To solve this, we will use the principle of inclusion-exclusion, which is a powerful tool for dealing with problems that involve counting overlapping sets.

Counting Multiples of 3

The first step is to count the multiples of 3 within the range 1 to 200. We can use the formula for the n-th term of an arithmetic sequence to find how many multiples of 3 there are.

The formula for the n-th term a_n of an arithmetic sequence is given by:

a_n a (n-1)d, where a is the first term and d is the common difference.

For multiples of 3:

a 3 d 3 a_n ≤ 200

Substituting the values, we get:

3 (n-1)3 ≤ 200

(n-1)3 ≤ 197

3n - 3 ≤ 197

3n ≤ 200

n ≤ 200/3

n ≤ 66.67

Since n must be a whole number, n 66. Therefore, there are 66 multiples of 3 between 1 and 200.

Counting Multiples of 7

Next, we count the multiples of 7 within the same range.

Using the same formula for the n-th term of an arithmetic sequence:

a 7 d 7 a_n ≤ 200

Substituting the values, we get:

7 (n-1)7 ≤ 200

(n-1)7 ≤ 193

7n - 7 ≤ 193

7n ≤ 200

n ≤ 200/7

n ≤ 28.57

Since n must be a whole number, n 28. Therefore, there are 28 multiples of 7 between 1 and 200.

Counting Multiples of 21

Now, we count the multiples of 21 (i.e., numbers that are divisible by both 3 and 7) to avoid double-counting.

a 21 d 21 a_n ≤ 200

Substituting the values, we get:

21 (n-1)21 ≤ 200

(n-1)21 ≤ 179

21n - 21 ≤ 179

21n ≤ 200

n ≤ 200/21

n ≤ 9.52

Since n must be a whole number, n 9. Therefore, there are 9 multiples of 21 between 1 and 200.

Applying the Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion

The principle of inclusion-exclusion allows us to find the total count by subtracting the overlap counted twice. The total count of numbers divisible by 3 or 7 is given by:

Total Multiples of 3 Multiples of 7 - Multiples of both 3 and 7

Total 66 28 - 9

Total 85

Therefore, there are 85 numbers between 1 and 200 that are evenly divisible by 3 or 7.

Conclusion

Using the principle of inclusion-exclusion, we accurately determined that there are 85 numbers between 1 and 200 that are divisible by either 3 or 7. Understanding and applying this principle can be very useful in solving similar problems involving overlapping sets in arithmetic sequences.

Related Keywords

divisibility rules arithmetic sequences inclusion-exclusion principle

Additional Resources:

Learn more about arithmetic sequences Explore the inclusion-exclusion principle