Maths Olympiad Prep

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Number theory Difficulty 4.2 AIME Find the answer

Let nn be a positive integer and dd be a digit such that the value of the numeral 32d\underline{32d} in base nn equals 263263, and the value of the numeral 324\underline{324} in base nn equals the value of the numeral 11d1\underline{11d1} in base six. What is n+d ?n + d ?
(A) 10\textbf{(A)} ~10(B) 11\textbf{(B)} ~11(C) 13\textbf{(C)} ~13(D) 15\textbf{(D)} ~15(E) 16\textbf{(E)} ~16

Multiple choice: answer with the letter of the option you want.

Solution

We can start by setting up an equation to convert 32d\underline{32d} base nn to base 10. To convert this to base 10, it would be 3n2+2n+d.3{n}^2+2n+d. Because it is equal to 263, we can set this equation to 263. Finally, subtract dd from both sides to get 3n2+2n=263d3{n}^2+2n = 263-d.
We can also set up equations to convert 324\underline{324} base nn and 11d1\underline{11d1} base 6 to base 10. The equation to covert 324\underline{324} base nn to base 10 is 3n2+2n+4.3{n}^2+2n+4. The equation to convert 11d1\underline{11d1} base 6 to base 10 is 63+62+6d+1.{6}^3+{6}^2+6d+1.
Simplify 63+62+6d+1{6}^3+{6}^2+6d+1 so it becomes 6d+253.6d+253. Setting the above equations equal to each other, we have
3n2+2n+4=6d+253.3{n}^2+2n+4 = 6d+253.
Subtracting 4 from both sides gets 3n2+2n=6d+249.3{n}^2+2n = 6d+249.
We can then use equations
3n2+2n=263d3{n}^2+2n = 263-d
3n2+2n=6d+2493{n}^2+2n = 6d+249
to solve for dd. Set 263d263-d equal to 6d+2496d+249 and solve to find that d=2d=2.
Plug d=2d=2 back into the equation 3n2+2n=263d3{n}^2+2n = 263-d. Subtract 261 from both sides to get your final equation of 3n2+2n261=0.3{n}^2+2n-261 = 0. We solve using the quadratic formula to find that the solutions are 99 and 29/3.-29/3. Because the base must be positive, n=9.n=9.
Adding 2 to 9 gets (B) 11\boxed{\textbf{(B)} ~11}
-Zeusthemoose (edited for readability)
-solution corrected by Billowingsweater

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.