Problem:
Given any positive integer , we call the cyclostyled of the number obtained by concatenating 2012 writings of (in base 10). For example the cyclostyled of 314 is , where the digits "314" repeat 2012 times.
a) Determine all positive integers such that the cyclostyled of is a multiple of 9.
b) Determine all positive integers such that the cyclostyled of is a multiple of 11.
Solution
Solution:
Let be the cyclostyled of .
a.
Let us call the sum of the digits of . By the divisibility criterion for 9 we have that is a multiple of 9 if and only if is a multiple of 9; on the other hand , which is a multiple of 9 if and only if is (because the greatest common divisor between 2012 and 9 is equal to 1). Using again the divisibility criterion for 9 we observe that is a multiple of 9 if and only if is.
In conclusion the sought are all and only the multiples of 9.
b.
Let us call the alternating sum of the digits of (done in such a way that the units digit is taken with a positive sign). By the divisibility criterion for 11 we have that is a multiple of 11 if and only if is a multiple of 11.
We distinguish the following two cases.
- has an even number of digits.
Then , indeed each digit of is summed 2012 times with the same sign. Since we observe that is a multiple of 11 if and only if is. Using again the divisibility criterion for 11 we have that is a multiple of 11 if and only if is.
Therefore the with an even number of digits that we want are all and only the multiples of 11.
- has an odd number of digits.
In the alternating sum of the digits of we have that each digit of is summed times with the sign and just as many times with the sign ; therefore , that is, is always a multiple of 11.
In conclusion the sought are the positive integers with an odd number of digits and the multiples of 11 with an even number of digits.