We say an integer n is naoish if n≥90 and the second-to-last digit of n (in decimal notation) is equal to 9. For example, 10798, 1999 and 90 are naoish, whereas 9900, 2009 and 9 are not. Nino expresses 2020 as a sum: 2020=n1+n2+⋯+nk where each of the nj is naoish. What is the smallest positive number k for which Nino can do this?
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Equivalently, n is naoish iff n=100p−q where p≥1 is an integer and 1≤q≤10. Decomposing each nj in this way, we have: 2020=100(p1+p2+⋯+pk)−q1−q2−⋯−qk. In particular, 100∣2020+q1+q2+⋯+qk. The next multiple of 100 above 2020 is 2300, so 2020+q1+q2+⋯+qk≥2300. As each qj≤10, this implies k≥102300−2020=8. It is easy to find a solution that works with k=8. One example is 1390 (once) and 90 (seven times).
Solution 2
Let ni≡ai(mod10) with 0≤ai<10. The second-to-last digit of n1+⋯+nk is the last digit of 9k+c, where c is the total carry of the addition. As a1+a2+⋯+ak≤9k<10k the total carry c satisfies 0≤c≤k−1. This means that we can write 9k+c=10k−(k−c)=10k−i for some 1≤i≤k. To get a sum of 2020, we need to have 10k−i≡2(mod10), i.e. i≡8(mod10) and, in particular, i≥8. From i≤k we obtain k≥8. It is easy to find a solution that works with k=8. One example is 1390 (once) and 90 (seven times).
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