Maths Olympiad Prep

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Number theory Difficulty 3.7 AMC 10/12 Find the answer Soviet Union

Problem:
Find four different three-digit numbers (in base 10) starting with the same digit, such that their sum is divisible by three of the numbers.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Solution:
Answer: 108108, 117117, 135135, 180180. Sum 540=108×5=135×4=180×3540 = 108 \times 5 = 135 \times 4 = 180 \times 3.

Try looking for a number of the form 3n3n, 4n4n, 5n5n, nn. We want 12n12n, 15n15n and 20n20n to have the same first digit. If the first digit is 11, this requires n=9n = 9. We must now check that the fourth number which must be 60n12n15n20n=13n60n - 12n - 15n - 20n = 13n also has three digits starting with 11. It does, so we are home. [In fact, in this case the first digit must be 11, since 20n>3212n20n > \frac{3}{2} 12n.]

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.