Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 164 of 260 #164 of 1964

Problem 164

AMC 10/12, early questions
Number theory Difficulty 3.6 Multiple choice

The digits 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55 are each used once to write a five-digit number PQRSTPQRST. The three-digit number PQRPQR is divisible by 44, the three-digit number QRSQRS is divisible by 55, and the three-digit number RSTRST is divisible by 33. What is PP?

Pick one

Official solution

Solution 1 (Modular Arithmetic)
We see that since QRSQRS is divisible by 55, SS must equal either 00 or 55, but it cannot equal 00, so S=5S=5. We notice that since PQRPQR must be even, RR must be either 22 or 44. However, when R=2R=2, we see that T2(mod3)T \equiv 2 \pmod{3}, which cannot happen because 22 and 55 are already used up; so R=4R=4. This gives T3(mod4)T \equiv 3 \pmod{4}, meaning T=3T=3. Now, we see that QQ could be either 11 or 22, but 1414 is not divisible by 44, but 2424 is. This means that Q=2Q=2 and P=(A) 1P=\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 1}.
~CHECKMATE2021

Solution 2
We know that out of PQRST,PQRST, QRSQRS is divisible by 55. Therefore SS is obviously 5 because QRSQRS is divisible by 5. So we now have PQR5TPQR5T as our number. Next, let's move on to the second piece of information that was given to us. RSTRST is divisible by 3. So, according to the divisibility by 3 rule, the sum of RSTRST has to be a multiple of 3. The only 2 big enough are 9 and 12 and since 5 is already given. The possible sums of RTRT are 4 and 7. So, the possible values for RR are 1,3,4,3 and the possible values of TT are 3,1,3,4. So, using this we can move on to the fact that PQRPQR is divisible by 4. So, using that we know that RR has to be even so 4 is the only possible value for RR. Using that we also know that 3 is the only possible value for 3. So, we have PQRSTPQRST = PQ453PQ453 so the possible values are 1 and 2 for PP and QQ. Using the divisibility rule of 4 we know that QRQR has to be divisible by 4. So, either 14 or 24 are the possibilities, and 24 is divisible by 4. So the only value left for PP is 1. P=(A) 1P=\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 1}.
~CHECKMATE2021

Solution 3 (Divisibility Rules)
We know that QRSQRS is divisible by 55, so SS would be either 55 or 00. However, 00 is not a choice, so S=5S=5. Also, PQRPQR is divisible by 44, so this means that QRQR is 1212, 3232, 2424, or 5252. If R=2R=2, then TT has to be 22 or 55 (RSTRST is divisible by 33), but both are taken. So, R=4QR=24R=4 \Rightarrow QR=24. R+S+TR+S+T must equal 99 or 1212, but because 4+5=94+5=9, R+S+T=12T=3R+S+T=12 \Rightarrow T=3. This leaves P=(A) 1P=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}
~CHECKMATE2021

Solution 4 (Lucky and Fast)
We can simply try each of the answer choice, and we will see which one works. Trying P=(A) 1P=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}, if PQRPQR is divisible by 44, QRQR must be divisible by four. Therefore, QRQR can only be 2424, 5252, or 3232. However, since QRSQRS is divisible by 55, S=5S = 5, so QRQR cannot be 5252. When QR=32QR = 32, R=2R = 2, the last requirement cannot be satisfied because R+S+T=2+4+5=11R + S + T = 2 + 4 + 5 = 11, and 1111 is not divisible by 33. However, when QR=24QR = 24, R=4R = 4, the last requirement can be satisfied. Hence, we can see that when P=(A) 1P=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}, there is one way to satisfy all three requirements, leading to a conclusion that PP is (A) 1\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}.
~CHECKMATE2021

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