Solution 1
We will do casework on n(mod5) and see which values work.
Case 1: n≡1(mod5)
n would have to be greater than 91 because if it wasn't then we could just add denominations of 5 until we got to 91. However, if n is more than 91, then all the numbers from 91 to n which are not multiples of 5 are also unrepresentable, which violates the problem's condition of 91 being the largest unrepresentable number. So there are no values for this case.
Case 2: n≡2(mod5)
n+1≡3(mod5) is the smallest formable number 3 mod 5, so n+1−5=n−4 is the largest unformable number 3 mod 5. 2n+2≡1(mod5) is the smallest formable number 1 mod 5, so 2n+2−5=2n−3 is the largest unformable number 1 mod 5. Finally, 2n≡4(mod5) is the smallest formable number 4 mod 5, so 2n−5 is the largest unformable number 4 mod 5.
Therefore, the largest unformable number overall is 2n−3≡1(mod5). This satisfies the problem's condition! 2n−3=91⟹n=47.
Case 3: n≡3(mod5)
n+1≡4(mod5), which is the smallest representable number 4 mod 5, so the largest unrepresentable number 4 mod 5 is n+1−5=n−4.
Similarly, 2n≡1(mod5) is the smallest formable number 1 mod 5 and 3n+3≡2(mod5) is the smallest formable number 2 mod 5 (isn't it 2n+1? ~Towerrocks), so the largest number 2 mod 5 that is unrepresentable is 3n+3−5=3n−2, but the largest number 1 mod 5 that is unrepresentable is 2n−5. 3n−2>2n−5, so there would be a larger unrepresentable number than 91 if we were to set 2n−5 equal to it, which violates the problem's condition. And we can't set 3n−2 equal to 91 because 91≡2(mod5), so there are no valid values for this case.
Case 4: n≡4(mod5)
n+1 would be a multiple of 5, so we would be left with denominations of 5 and n. Then it would just be a straightforward application of the Chicken Mcnugget Theorem: 5n−n−5=91⟹n=24, which is indeed 4(mod5). So this value works.
Case 5: n is a multiple of 5
In this case we’re left with denominations of 5 and n+1, so by the Chicken Mcnugget Theorem we get 5(n+1)−n−6=91⟹n=23, which is not a multiple of 5. So there are no valid values here.
The two valid values we found were 47 and 24, so the answer is 47+24=71.
~grogg007
Solution 2
Notice that if we let n+1 be a multiple of 5, then by the Chicken McNugget Theorem we have 5n−(n+5)=91⟹n=24. We find this is the smallest possible value of n.
For a value of n to work, we should not be able to form the value 91, but we should be able to form the values from 92 to 96. After 96, we can form any value by adding additional 5 cent stamps (92+5x, 93+5x, 94+5x, 95+5x, and 96+6x, where x is a positive integer, together make all positive integers after 96). We also need to be able to form 96 using only denominations of n and n+1, because if we also used denominations of 5, then we could just remove a 5 cent stamp to get back to 91.
Now we can figure out the working (n,n+1) pairs that can be used to obtain 96. We also need to make sure we can get the numbers 92−95 but not 91 with denominations of 5. We can use no more than a total of 2496=4 stamps. Let an+b(n+1)=96, where a is the number of n stamps used and b is the number of n+1 stamps used. The possible (a,b) pairs are:
(a,b)→(4,0),(3,1),(2,2),(1,3),(0,4),(3,0),(2,1),(1,2),(0,3),(2,0),(1,1),(0,2),(1,0),(0,1).
Solving for n in each (a,b) pair we find that the potential solutions are:
(n,n+1)→(23,24),(24,25),(31,32),(32,33),(47,48),(48,49),(95,96),(96,97).
The first pair doesn't work because n≥24, and the last two don't work either because they are too large to form the values 92 through 95. Finally, (31,32) and (32,33) don't work because they can also form 91 with denominations of 5 (for example, 32⋅0+33⋅2+5⋅5=91). We are left with (24,25),(47,48),(48,49). Now we need to make sure that 92−95 can be formed. We know from the Chicken McNugget Theorem that 91 is the largest unformable number with denominations 24,25 and 5, so this means that all numbers after 91 should be formable, and we can bash to confirm that all numbers from 92−95 can be formed with denominations of 47,48, and 5. However, we find that 92 cannot be formed with denominations of 48,49, and 5, so n=48 is eliminated. Then n∈{24,47}. The requested sum is 24+47=071.
~Revisions by emerald_block, Mathkiddie
Note on finding and testing potential pairs
In order to find potential (n,n+1) pairs, we simply test all combinations of n and n+1 that sum to less than 4n (so that n≥24) to see if they produce an integer value of n when their sum is set to 96. Note that, since 96 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, and 4, we must either use only n or only n+1, as otherwise, the sum is guaranteed to not be divisible by one of the numbers 2, 3, and 4.
Combinationn,n,n,nn+1,n+1,n+1n,n,nn+1,n+1n,nn+1nSum4n3n+33n2n+22nn+1nn-value24313247489596
To test whether a pair works, we simply check that, using the number 5 and the two numbers in the pair, it is impossible to form a sum of 91, and it is possible to form sums of 92, 93, and 94. (95 can always be formed using only 5s, and the pair is already able to form 96 because that was how it was found.) We simply need to reach the residues 2, 3, and 4(mod5) using only n and n+1 without going over the number we are trying to form, while being unable to do so with the residue 1. As stated in the above solution, the last two pairs are clearly too large to work.
Pair24,2531,3232,3347,4848,49Not 91✓××✓✓92✓✓✓✓×93✓✓✓✓✓94✓✓✓✓✓
(Note that if a pair is unable to fulfill a single requirement, there is no need to check the rest.)
~emerald_block
Solution 3
Notice that once we hit all residues mod5, we'd be able to get any number greater (since we can continually add 5 to each residue). Furthermore, n≡0,1(mod5) since otherwise 91 is obtainable (by repeatedly adding 5 to either n or n+1) Since the given numbers are 5, n, and n+1, we consider two cases: when n≡4(mod5) and when n is not that.
When n≡4(mod5), we can only hit all residues mod5 once we get to 4n (since n and n+1 only contribute 1 more residue mod5). Looking at multiples of 4 greater than 91 with n≡4(mod5), we get n=24. It's easy to check that this works. Furthermore, any n greater than this does not work since 91 isn't the largest unobtainable value (can be verified using Chicken McNugget Theorem).
Now, if n≡2,3(mod5), then we'd need to go up to 2(n+1)=2n+2 until we can hit all residues mod5 since n and n+1 create 2 distinct residues mod5. Checking for such n gives n=47 and n=48. It's easy to check that n=47 works, but n=48 does not (since 92 is unobtainable). Furthermore, any n greater than this does not work since 91 isn't the largest unobtainable value in those cases (can be verified using Chicken McNugget Theorem). (Also note that in the 3(mod5) case, the residue 2(mod5) has will not be produced until 3(n+1) while the 1(mod5) case has already been produced, so the highest possible value that cannot be produced would not be a number equivalent to 1(mod5))
Since we've checked all residues mod5, we can be sure that these are all the possible values of n. Hence, the answer is 24+47=071. - ktong
Solution 4
Obviously n≤90. We see that the problem's condition is equivalent to: 96 is the smallest number that can be formed which is 1 mod 5, and 92, 93, 94 can be formed (95 can always be formed). Now divide this up into cases. If n≡0(mod5), then 91 can be formed by using n+1 and some 5's, so there are no solutions for this case. If n≡1(mod5), then 91 can be formed by using n and some 5's, so there are no solutions for this case either.
For n≡2(mod5), 2n+2 is the smallest value that can be formed which is 1 mod 5, so 2n+2=96 and n=47. We see that 92=45+47, 93=48+45, and 94=47+47, so n=47 does work. If n≡3(mod5), then the smallest value that can be formed which is 1 mod 5 is 2n, so 2n=96 and n=48. We see that 94=49+45 and 93=48+45, but 92 cannot be formed, so there are no solutions for this case. If n≡4(mod5), then we can just ignore n+1 since it is a multiple of 5, meaning that the Chicken McNugget theorem is a both necessary and sufficient condition, and it states that 5n−n−5=91 meaning 4n=96 and n=24. Hence, the only two n that work are n=24 and n=47, so our answer is 24+47=071. -Stormersyle
Solution 5 (standard)
Consider a postage that gives 96. We cannot use a 5-stamp as otherwise simply removing it yields a postage that gives 91. Additionally, there cannot be at least 5 of n-stamps or n+1-stamps, as else we can convert 5 of the same valued stamp into a positive number of 5-stamps, then remove one to get a postage of 91.
From here consider integers 0≤a,b,≤4 where an+b(n+1)=96⟹n=a+b96−b. The only pairs (a,b) that yield an integer value are (a,b)=(0,2),(0,3),(0,4),(1,0),(2,0),(3,0),(4,0),(4,1) which generate the values n=47,31,23,96,48,32,24,19 respectively. It is easy to find counterexamples of postages that evaluate to 91 besides n=24,47.
Now for n=24 clearly 91 is unobtainable since we need a 4(mod5) amount of 24-stamps which exceeds a value of 96. A similar result holds for n=47 as any evaluation ≤2⋅47 can only be 0,2,3(mod5). In both cases it is easy to construct a postage for 92,93,94,95,96, to which repeatedly adding 5-stamps makes all postages worth >91 possible. The requesteed sum is 24+47=71.
- blueprimes
Solution 6
We can use the formula g=(maxj∈{1,2,…,a1−1}Rj)−a1, where g is the Frobenius Number (in this case 91), a1 is the smallest denomination (which is 5), j∈{1,2,…,a1−1} represents a remainder (residue class) when you divide an integer by a1, and Rj is the smallest nonnegative integer such that a⋅n+b⋅(n+1)≡j(mod5) where a and b are also nonnegative integers. So we have 91=(maxj∈{1,2,3,4}Rj)−5⟹96=(maxj∈{1,2,3,4}Rj). This means that the largest of the Rj values must be equal to exactly 96. We will do casework on n(mod5).
Case 1: n≡1(mod5).
n+1≡2(mod5). Plug this in:
R1: a⋅1+b⋅2≡1(mod5)⟹a=1,b=0. So R1=1⋅n+0⋅(n+1)=n.
R2: a⋅1+b⋅2≡2(mod5)⟹a=0,b=1. So R2=0⋅n+1⋅(n+1)=n+1.
R3: a⋅1+b⋅2≡3(mod5)⟹a=1,b=1. So R3=1⋅n+1⋅(n+1)=2n+1.
R4: a⋅1+b⋅2≡4(mod5)⟹a=0,b=2. So R4=2n+2. This is the largest of the four Rj values. Setting this equal to 96 we get n=47. But this doesn't work because 47 is not congruent to 1(mod5).
Case 2: n≡2(mod5).
n+1≡3(mod5). Plug this in:
R1: a⋅2+b⋅3≡1(mod5)⟹a=0,b=2. So R1=0⋅n+2⋅(n+1)=2n+2.
R2: a⋅2+b⋅3≡2(mod5)⟹a=1,b=0. So R2=1⋅n+0⋅(n+1)=n.
R3: a⋅2+b⋅3≡3(mod5)⟹a=0,b=1. So R3=0⋅n+1⋅(n+1)=n+1.
R4: a⋅2+b⋅3≡4(mod5)⟹a=2,b=0. So R4=2⋅n+0⋅(n+1)=2n.
The largest of the four Rj values is R1=2n+2. Setting this equal to 96 we get 2n+2=96⟹n=47. Now this works! 47 is indeed 2(mod5).
Case 3: n≡3(mod5).
n+1≡4(mod5). Plug this in:
R1: a⋅3+b⋅4≡1(mod5)⟹a=2,b=0. So R1=2⋅n+0⋅(n+1)=2n.
R2: a⋅3+b⋅4≡2(mod5)⟹a=1,b=1. So R2=1⋅n+1⋅(n+1)=2n+1.
R3: a⋅3+b⋅4≡3(mod5)⟹a=1,b=0. So R3=1⋅n+0⋅(n+1)=n.
R4: a⋅3+b⋅4≡4(mod5)⟹a=0,b=1. So R4=0⋅n+1⋅(n+1)=n+1.
The largest of the four Rj values is R2=2n+1. Setting this equal to 96 we get n=47.5, which is not an integer. So this doesn't work.
Case 4: n≡4(mod5).
We notice that n+1 will be a multiple of 5, so we're left with the denominations of 5 and n. Since these are two relatively prime numbers, we can do a straightforward application of the Chicken Mcnugget Theorem to get 5n−5−n=91⟹n=24. This works because 24≡4(mod5).
Case 5: n≡0(mod5).
Same thing as case 4, only this time we are left with denominations of 5 and n+1. Applying the Chicken Mcnugget Theorem gives 4n−1=91⟹n=23, but this doesn't work because 23 clearly isn't a multiple of 5.
The two valid values we found were 47 and 24, so the sum is 71.
Video solution by grogg007:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv9_YrVebFI
Video solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZP2e-_rjA