digits abc

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digits abc

by canuckclint » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:23 pm
The three-digit positive integer x has the hundreds, tens, and units digits of a, b, and c, respectively. The three-digit positive integer y has the hundreds, tens, and units digits of k, l, and m, respectively. If (2a)(3b)(5c) = 12(2k)(3l)(5m), what is the value of x – y?

210
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by IsacCosta » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:18 pm
Here's my attempt, assuming that any digit D is such that 1 <= D <= 9:

x = 100*A + 10*B + C
y = 100*K + 10*L + M

2A * 3B * 5C = 12 * 2K * 3L * 5M

one possibility: 2A * 3B * 5C = 2(4K) * 3(3L) * 5M

A = 4K, B = 3L, C = M

this limits K to { 1, 2 } and L to { 1, 2, 3 }

therefore: x - y = 300K + 20L will have six different values: 320, 340, 360, 620, 640, 660.

In fact, 12 can be written as follows to comply to 1 <= D <= 9:

set 1) 1 * 2 * 6
set 2) 1 * 3 * 4
set 3) 2 * 2 * 3

If we generate permutations of these, we will have solution sets { x, y, z } such that A = xK, B = yL, C = zM.

Let's take a look at the possible values of the variable on the right for each multiple.

a) if Left = 1 * Right, then 1 <= Right <= 9 and 1 <= Left <= 9; difference digit will be 0
b) if Left = 2 * Right, then 1 <= Right <= 4 and Left belongs to { 2, 4, 6, 8 }; difference digits can be { 1, 2, 3, 4 }
c) if Left = 3 * Right, then 1 <= Right <= 3 and Left belongs to { 3, 6, 9 }; difference digits can be { 2, 4, 6 }
d) if Left = 4 * Right, then 1 <= Right <= 2 and Left belongs to { 4, 8 }; difference digits can be { 3, 6 }
e) if Left = 6 * Right, then Right = 1 and Left is 6, difference digit will be 5.

So for the first solution set { 1, 2, 6 }, the difference x - y will take values which digits are permutations of { 0, X, 5 } , where X = { 1, 2, 3, 4 }.

For the second solution set { 1, 3, 4 }, the difference x - y will take values which digits are permutations of { 0, X, Y }, X = { 2, 4, 6 } and Y = { 3, 6 }

For the thrid solution set { 2, 2, 3 }, the difference x - y will take values which digits are permutations of { X, X, Y }, X = { 1, 2, 3, 4 } and Y = { 2, 4, 6 }.

We will have 4*3! = 24 possible values from set 1, 6*3! - 3 = 33 possible values from set 2 and for solution set 3, 4*3*3 - 2*2 = 32 for when we pick the same element from X twice and 6*3*3! - 8*3 - 2*3! = 72, with a total of 104 possible values.

If I did not calculate anything wrong, we may have 161 possible values for the difference x - y.

----------------

You did not mention whether all the digits should be different, if that's the case then only the solution set 2 * 2 * 3 should be used.

Left = 2*Right => (1,2) (2,4) (3,6) (4,8) - need to select two from these
Left = 3*Right => (1,3) (2,6) (3,9) - need to select one from these

In this case the only solution is (1,2) (4,8) (3,9), which leads to:

982 - 341 = 641, 928 - 314 = 614, 892 - 431 = 461, 829 - 413 = 416, 298 - 134 = 164, 289 - 143 = 146. The differences are numbers which digits are permutations of { 1, 4, 6 }.


If anyone finds something wrong with this reasoning, please let me know.

Namaste.

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Re: digits abc

by logitech » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:37 pm
canuckclint wrote:The three-digit positive integer x has the hundreds, tens, and units digits of a, b, and c, respectively. The three-digit positive integer y has the hundreds, tens, and units digits of k, l, and m, respectively. If (2a)(3b)(5c) = 12(2k)(3l)(5m), what is the value of x – y?

210
(2a)(3b)(5c) = 12(2k)(3l)(5m) means:

abc = 12 klm

12=2x2x3 so we can have

621 - 3 ways
431 - 3 ways
232 - 3 ways

9 ways of writing different pairs of ABC and KLM

For example:

lets use: 431

KLM = 123 and ABC = 461

or lets use 232

KLM = 123 and ABC= 266

and bla bla bla..so X-Y will not be the value all the time.
LGTCH
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by canuckclint » Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:17 pm
Actually theres a much better way. Also the question got pasted wrong.
They are exponents a,b,c
Recall the "fundamental theorem of arithmetic"

Every integer can be return in its prime factors:

(2^a)(3^b)(5^c) = 12(2^k)(3^l)(5^m)
= 2*2*3 (2^k)(3^l)(5^m) = 2^(k+2) * 2^(l+1) * 5^m

(k+2)(l+1)(m)
-abc

= 210

Good on you for trying the question.
Cheers,
Clinton

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by kris610 » Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:35 pm
After a few minutes, I realized this has to be 2^a......which is totally different from 2a 3b 5c...

I guess the person can be a bit more careful while posting the questions.

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by canuckclint » Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:31 pm
kris610 wrote:After a few minutes, I realized this has to be 2^a......which is totally different from 2a 3b 5c...

I guess the person can be a bit more careful while posting the questions.
Unfortunately when i copy&paste from mgmat this happens,
I should still double check. Thanks!

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by kshitij90 » Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:14 am
The thing to remember here is that LHS=RHS, which the problem states.

Therefore,

2^a . 3^b . 5^c= 2.2.3 . 2^k . 3^l . 5^m.

Now we need to balance both sides out. plug in values for a, b and c.

a=3. We cannot plug in a=1 or 2 since we wouldn't be able to balance it out on the RHS, therefore minimum value of a has to be 3.

b=2. Again, we cannot plug-in b=1 as we need to balance out the two 3s on the right hand side.

c=1 will suffice as there is only 5 on the rhs.

therefore on the rhs,

k=1 (since there already are two 2s from the prime factorization of 12)
l=1 (since there is already one three from the prime factorization of 12)
m=1.

We get,

2^3 . 3^2 . 5^1= 2^3 . 3^3 . 5^1

Therefore,

x=321
y=111

x-y= 210.

This method works if you plug in higher values too.