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Difference between revisions of "2021 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 11"

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==Solution 2 (Vertical Subtraction)==
 
==Solution 2 (Vertical Subtraction)==
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Vertically subtracting <cmath>2021_b - 221_b</cmath> we see that the ones place becomes 0, and so does the <math>b^1</math> place. Then, we perform a carry (make sure the carry is in base <math>b</math>!). Let <math>b-2 = A.</math> Then, we have our final number as <cmath>1A00_b</cmath>
+
Vertically subtracting <math>2021_b - 221_b.</math> we see that the ones place becomes <math>0,</math> and so does the <math>b^1</math> place. Then, we perform a carry (make sure the carry is in base <math>b</math>). Let <math>b-2 = A.</math> Then, we have our final number as <cmath>1A00_b.</cmath>
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Now, when expanding, we see that this number is simply <math>b^3 - (b - 2)^2.</math>
 
Now, when expanding, we see that this number is simply <math>b^3 - (b - 2)^2.</math>
  
−
Now, notice that the final number will only be congruent to <cmath>b^3-(b-2)^2\equiv0\pmod{3}</cmath> if either <math>b\equiv0\pmod{3},</math> or if <math>b\equiv1\pmod{3}</math> (because note that <math>(b - 2)^2</math> would become <math>\equiv1\pmod{3},</math> and <math>b^3</math> would become <math>\equiv1\pmod{3}</math> as well, and therefore the final expression would become <math>1-1\equiv0\pmod{3}.</math> Therefore, <math>b</math> must be <math>\equiv2\pmod{3}.</math> Among the answers, only 8 is <math>\equiv2\pmod{3},</math> and therefore our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E)} ~8}.</math>
+
Now, notice that the final number will only be congruent to <cmath>b^3-(b-2)^2\equiv0\pmod{3}</cmath> if either <math>b\equiv0\pmod{3},</math> or if <math>b\equiv1\pmod{3}</math> (because note that <math>(b - 2)^2</math> would become <math>\equiv1\pmod{3},</math> and <math>b^3</math> would become <math>\equiv1\pmod{3}</math> as well, and therefore the final expression would become <math>1-1\equiv0\pmod{3}.</math> Therefore, <math>b</math> must be <math>\equiv2\pmod{3}.</math> Among the answers, only <math>8</math> is <math>\equiv2\pmod{3},</math> and therefore our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E)} ~8}.</math>
  
 
~icecreamrolls8
 
~icecreamrolls8

Revision as of 15:31, 22 November 2021

Problem

For which of the following integers $b$ is the base-$b$ number $2021_b - 221_b$ not divisible by $3$?

$\textbf{(A)} ~3 \qquad\textbf{(B)} ~4\qquad\textbf{(C)} ~6\qquad\textbf{(D)} ~7\qquad\textbf{(E)} ~8$

Solution 1 (Factor)

We have \begin{align*} 2021_b - 221_b &= (2021_b - 21_b) - (221_b - 21_b) \\ &= 2000_b - 200_b \\ &= 2b^3 - 2b^2 \\ &= 2b^2(b-1), \end{align*} which is divisible by $3$ unless $b\equiv2\pmod{3}.$ The only choice congruent to $2$ modulo $3$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(E)} ~8}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 2 (Vertical Subtraction)

Vertically subtracting $2021_b - 221_b.$ we see that the ones place becomes $0,$ and so does the $b^1$ place. Then, we perform a carry (make sure the carry is in base $b$). Let $b-2 = A.$ Then, we have our final number as \[1A00_b.\] Now, when expanding, we see that this number is simply $b^3 - (b - 2)^2.$

Now, notice that the final number will only be congruent to \[b^3-(b-2)^2\equiv0\pmod{3}\] if either $b\equiv0\pmod{3},$ or if $b\equiv1\pmod{3}$ (because note that $(b - 2)^2$ would become $\equiv1\pmod{3},$ and $b^3$ would become $\equiv1\pmod{3}$ as well, and therefore the final expression would become $1-1\equiv0\pmod{3}.$ Therefore, $b$ must be $\equiv2\pmod{3}.$ Among the answers, only $8$ is $\equiv2\pmod{3},$ and therefore our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(E)} ~8}.$

~icecreamrolls8

Solution 3 (Residues)

By definition of bases, this number is a polynomial in terms of $b$ ($(2b^3+0b^2+2b^1+1b^0)-(2b^2+2b^1+1b^0)$ to be exact). Thus, for two values of $b$ that share the same residue modulo $3$, the two resulting numbers will share the same residue modulo $3$, so either both or neither will be divisible by $3$.

Choices $\textbf{(A)} ~3,\textbf{(B)} ~4,\textbf{(C)} ~6,\textbf{(D)} ~7,\textbf{(E)} ~8$ are congruent to $0,1,0,1,2$ modulo $3$, respectively. This means $\textbf{(A)} ~3$ and $\textbf{(C)} ~6$ are either both wrong or both right (and the latter obviously cannot be the case), and likewise with $\textbf{(B)} ~4$ and $\textbf{(D)} ~7$. This leaves $\boxed{\textbf{(E)} ~8}$, the only choice with a unique residue.

~MRENTHUSIASM (revised by emerald_block)

Video Solution (Simple and Quick)

https://youtu.be/1TZ1uI9z8fU

~ Education, the Study of Everything

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBfRVYx64dA&list=PLexHyfQ8DMuKqltG3cHT7Di4jhVl6L4YJ&index=10

~North America Math Contest Go Go Go

Video Solution 3

https://youtu.be/zYIuBXDhJJA

~savannahsolver

Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath

https://youtu.be/t-EEP2V4nAE

~IceMatrix

See Also

2021 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 10 		Followed by
Problem 12
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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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