2014 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

Problem 21

The $7$-digit numbers $\underline{7} \underline{4} \underline{A} \underline{5} \underline{2} \underline{B} \underline{1}$ and $\underline{3} \underline{2} \underline{6} \underline{A} \underline{B} \underline{4} \underline{C}$ are each multiples of $3$. Which of the following could be the value of $C$?

$\textbf{(A) }1\qquad\textbf{(B) }2\qquad\textbf{(C) }3\qquad\textbf{(D) }5\qquad \textbf{(E) }8$


Solution 1

The number$\mod{3}$ is congruent to sum of a number's digits$\mod{3}$ is congruent to the number$\mod{3}$. $74A52B1 \pmod{3}$ must be congruent to 0, since it is divisible by 3. Therefore, $7+4+A+5+2+B+1 \pmod{3}$ is also congruent to 0. $7+4+5+2+1 \equiv 1 \pmod{3}$, so $A+B\equiv 2 \pmod{3}$. As we know, $326AB4C\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$, so $3+2+6+A+B+4+C =15+A+B+C\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$, and therefore $A+B+C\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$. We can substitute 2 for $A+B$, so $2+C\equiv 0 \pmod{3}$, and therefore $C\equiv 1\pmod{3}$. This means that C can be 1, 4, or 7, but the only one of those that is an answer choice is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}$.

Solution 2

Since both numbers are divisible by 3, the sum of their digits has to be divisible by three. $7 + 4 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 19$. To be a multiple of $3$, $A + B$ has to be either $2$ or $5$ or $8$... and so on. We add up the numerical digits in the second number; $3 + 2 + 6 + 4 = 15$. We then add two of the selected values, $5$ to $15$, to get $20$. We then see that C = $1, 4$ or $7, 10$... and so on, otherwise the number will not be divisible by three. We then add $8$ to $15$, to get $23$, which shows us that C = $1$ or $4$ or $7$... and so on. To be a multiple of three, we select a few of the common numbers we got from both these equations, which could be $1, 4,$ and $7$. However, in the answer choices, there is no $7$ or $4$ or anything greater than $7$, but there is a $1$, so $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }1}$ is our answer.

Video Solution for Problems 21-25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S0u_fDjSxc

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/6xNkyDgIhEE?t=2593

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/7TOtBiod55Q ~savannahsolver

See Also

2014 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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