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Problem 183

Algebra Difficulty 1.3 Multiple choice CEMC Gauss (Grade 7) · Canada · 2014

If 92109124=2109210-9124=210-\Box, the value represented by the \Box is

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Official solution

Solution 1

Evaluating the left side of the equation, we get 92109124=869210-9124=86.

Therefore the right side of the equation, 210210-\Box, must also equal 86.
Since 210124=86210-124=86, then the value represented by the \Box is 124.

Solution 2

Since 92109124=(9000+210)(9000+124)=90009000+210124=2101249210-9124=(9000+210)-(9000+124)=9000-9000+210-124=210-124, then the value represented by the \Box is 124.

Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.