# 1986 AIME Problems/Problem 10

## Problem

In a parlor game, the magician asks one of the participants to think of a three digit number $(abc)$ where $a$, $b$, and $c$ represent digits in base $10$ in the order indicated. The magician then asks this person to form the numbers $(acb)$, $(bca)$, $(bac)$, $(cab)$, and $(cba)$, to add these five numbers, and to reveal their sum, $N$. If told the value of $N$, the magician can identify the original number, $(abc)$. Play the role of the magician and determine $(abc)$ if $N= 3194$.

## Solution

### Solution 1

Let $m$ be the number $100a+10b+c$. Observe that $3194+m=222(a+b+c)$ so

$$m\equiv -3194\equiv -86\equiv 136\pmod{222}$$

This reduces $m$ to one of $136, 358, 580, 802$. But also $a+b+c=\frac{3194+m}{222}>\frac{3194}{222}>14$ so $a+b+c\geq 15$. Of the four options, only $m = \boxed{358}$ satisfies this inequality.

### Solution 2

As in Solution 1, $3194 + m \equiv 222(a+b+c) \pmod{222}$, and so as above we get $m \equiv 136 \pmod{222}$. We can also take this equation modulo $9$; note that $m \equiv a+b+c \pmod{9}$, so

$$3194 + m \equiv 222m \implies 5m \equiv 8 \implies m \equiv 7 \pmod{9}.$$

Therefore $m$ is $7$ mod $9$ and $136$ mod $222$. There is a shared factor in $3$ in both, but the Chinese Remainder Theorem still tells us the value of $m$ mod $666$, namely $m \equiv 358$ mod $666$. We see that there are no other 3-digit integers that are $358$ mod $666$, so $m = \boxed{358}$.

### Solution 3

Let $n=abc$ then $$N=222(a+b+c)-n$$ $$N=222(a+b+c)-100a-10b-c=3194$$ Since $0<100a+10b+c<1000$, we get the inequality $$N<222(a+b+c) $\[3194<222(a+b+c)<4194$$ $\[14 Checking each of the multiples of $222$ from $15\cdot222$ to $18\cdot222$ by subtracting $N$ from each $222(a+b+c)$, we quickly find $n=\boxed{358}$

~ Nafer