sana.noor wrote:1,257
1,275
1,527
.........
.........
+ 7,521
The addition problem above shows four of the 24 different integers that can be formed by using each of the digits 1, 2, 5, and 7 exactly once in each integer. What is the sum of these 24 integers?
a) 26,996
b) 44,404
c) 60,444
d) 66,660
e) 99,990
OA is E
Its not that tough or lengthy as it looks. In fact you can solve this question under 1 minute.
Here is my approach: whenever I see such a lengthy addition or multiplication first thing comes into my mind it that GMAT never expects you to do the whole addition or multiplication.
Now if you notice there will be 24 numbers with those 4 digits. Out of those 24....each number will appear in the unit place 4 times...Correct....because each number get the same priority. So each number will appear only 6 times.
So lets calculate the unit digit.
1 will apear 4 times and will give unit digit=1*6=6
2 will apear 4 times and will give unit digit=2*6=2
5 will apear 4 times and will give unit digit=5*6=0
7 will apear 4 times and will give unit digit=7*6=2
Now if you add all the unit digits you will get 6+2+0+2=10 or unit digit is again 0.
So you can eliminate A B and C.
The above part is optional just in case if the answers are too close to eliminate.
Now here it is even easier. Suppose if you were to add all the numbers starting with 1,2,5 and 7 with just 000 at the end you will get 90,000
1000*6=6000
2000*6=12000
5000*6=30,000
7000*6=42,000
So the total sum is 90,000. Of course there is no answer is 90000 but the only answer that is more than 90,000 is
E.
The reason the sum will be more than 90,000 is because you will have all number more than 1000 (1257,1527,1725 and so on) same is with 7000 (7521,7251 and so on) so the final answer will be more than 90,000. Hence answer is
E.
it looks lengthy as I explained it here but I solved it in less than a minute. if you want you don't have to even do the unit digit part as the answers are so wide apart. I would do the Unit digit part only if the answer were like 98000 and 99568 so they are too close and Gmat will give other hints in these cases.