A grasshopper jumps along a line. His first jump takes him 1 cm., the second 2 cm, etc. Each jump can take him to the right or to the left. Prove that after 2017 jumps, the grasshopper cannot be in the same location it started.

Respuesta :

Answer:

The grasshopper cannot be in the same location it started because by 2017, it would have covered a distance of 1017576.5 to either left or right. and that distance is not an integer.

Explanation:

The grasshopper jumps in integer of 1 cm to either right or left

Calculating for the total distance covered in 2017 jumps

Total Distance = (2017 x 2018)/2 = 2035153 cm

To either right or left: this implies that the total distance be divided by 2

=> 1017576.5 cm

It shows that at some point, the grasshopper will not be in a position of integer on either right or left.

Therefore, it can not get to its initial point of start.