82. How many different three-digit numbers contain both the digit 2 and the digit 6?
(A) 52
(B) 54
(C) 56
(D) 60
(E) 62
OA later
(A) 52
(B) 54
(C) 56
(D) 60
(E) 62
OA later
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That's what I thought. But the OA is A.albatross86 wrote:Let the number be ABC
We MUST have 2 and 6 in this number. So first let's see how many ways we can do that.
Split the problem into 2 parts:
1. How many ways can we arrange these two digits 2 and 6 which must compulsorily be there, into 3 different places, where position/order matters?
2. How many ways can we choose a third digit?
We have 3 places in which we must ARRANGE 2 digits. So this would be done in 3P2 ways = 6
There is now a third place, which can (in all 6 of those above-mentioned cases) take 9 values 1-9
So in effect we have 6*9 = 54 different three-digit numbers containing both 2 and 6.
Pick B.
This is the similar to the explanation I have.....unable to understand it.... shouldn't there be a better approach....I doubt I'll have enough time in the GMAT to solve questions like these in the manner of the explanation.albatross86 wrote:Looks like I'm rusty!
I guess we are overcounting by this method in some way though I'm finding it difficult to put my finger on.
I'm guessing I screwed up in splitting the problem up somehow.
There is a detailed explanation here: https://www.gmatdaily.com/20091030-answer.html
Let me know if that is sufficient.
Case 1: 2 digits are the same.singhsa wrote:82. How many different three-digit numbers contain both the digit 2 and the digit 6?
(A) 52
(B) 54
(C) 56
(D) 60
(E) 62
OA later
The approach above double-counts the integers that include two 2's or two 6's: 226,262,622,662,626,266.TOPGMAT wrote:Hi,
Whats wrong doing it this way ?
_ _ _
now 2, 6, x where x can be any number can be arranged in 6 ways.
Now there are 10 values of x (0-9).
Therefore 10*6=60 ways.
But this includes the possibility of x being zero i.e
X 2 6 and x as zero but we want only 3 digit numbers.
026 and 062 are the only such numbers.
Therefore 60-2=58.
I don't know what I am missing...
singhsa wrote:82. How many different three-digit numbers contain both the digit 2 and the digit 6?
(A) 52
(B) 54
(C) 56
(D) 60
(E) 62
OA later
Albatross, I've been seeing this quite a bit and was curious what type of math this is classified under?albatross86 wrote:Let the number be ABC
We MUST have 2 and 6 in this number. So first let's see how many ways we can do that.
Split the problem into 2 parts:
1. How many ways can we arrange these two digits 2 and 6 which must compulsorily be there, into 3 different places, where position/order matters?
2. How many ways can we choose a third digit?
We have 3 places in which we must ARRANGE 2 digits. So this would be done in 3P2 ways = 6
There is now a third place, which can (in all 6 of those above-mentioned cases) take 9 values 1-9
So in effect we have 6*9 = 54 different three-digit numbers containing both 2 and 6.
Pick B.
GMATGuruNY wrote:The approach above double-counts the integers that include two 2's or two 6's: 226,262,622,662,626,266.TOPGMAT wrote:Hi,
Whats wrong doing it this way ?
_ _ _
now 2, 6, x where x can be any number can be arranged in 6 ways.
Now there are 10 values of x (0-9).
Therefore 10*6=60 ways.
But this includes the possibility of x being zero i.e
X 2 6 and x as zero but we want only 3 digit numbers.
026 and 062 are the only such numbers.
Therefore 60-2=58.
I don't know what I am missing...
For example, 226 is included when the following are counted:
x26 (where x = the hundreds digit 2)
2x6 (where x = the tens digit 2).
Since the 6 integers above have been double-counted, we must subtract 6 from the total:
58-6 = 52.
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