Let be a given integer, and be a multiple of . Suppose that the decimal expansion of has digits and . Show that has at least 3 different digits.
(Bayarmagnai Gombodorj)
Solution
Assume to the contrary that there exists an integer such that has at most 2 different digits and , where denotes . Consider which exists since . It follows from that . Moreover, the assumption that yields and so we must have
Hence and consequently, . Observe that
which implies . Thus by the assumption on . If then and so is divisible by 9, contradicting to (0.1). If then , giving a similar contradiction.
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