Difference between revisions of "2014 AIME II Problems/Problem 4"

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where <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are (not necessarily distinct) digits. Find the three digit number <math>abc</math>.  
 
where <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are (not necessarily distinct) digits. Find the three digit number <math>abc</math>.  
  
==Solution==
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==Solution 1==
 
Notice repeating decimals can be written as the following:
 
Notice repeating decimals can be written as the following:
  
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and since a and b are both between 0 and 9, we have a=b=4. Finally we have the 3 digit integer <math>\boxed{447}</math>
 
and since a and b are both between 0 and 9, we have a=b=4. Finally we have the 3 digit integer <math>\boxed{447}</math>
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==Solution 2==
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Note that <math>\frac{33}{37}=\frac{891}{999} = 0.\overline{891}</math>.  Also note that the period of <math>0.abab\overline{ab}+0.abcabc\overline{abc}</math> is at most <math>6</math>.  Therefore, we only need to worry about the sum <math>0.ababab+ 0.abcabc</math>.  Adding the two, we get
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<cmath> \begin{tabular}{ccccccc}&A&B&A&B&A&B\\ +&A&B&C&A&B&C\\ \hline &8&9&1&8&9&1\end{tabular} </cmath>
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From this, we can see that <math>A=4</math>, <math>B=4</math>, and <math>C=7</math>, so our desired answer is <math>\boxed{447}</math>

Revision as of 15:26, 27 March 2014

Problem

The repeating decimals $0.abab\overline{ab}$ and $0.abcabc\overline{abc}$ satisfy

\[0.abab\overline{ab}+0.abcabc\overline{abc}=\frac{33}{37},\]

where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are (not necessarily distinct) digits. Find the three digit number $abc$.

Solution 1

Notice repeating decimals can be written as the following:

$0.\overline{ab}=\frac{10a+b}{99}$

$0.\overline{abc}=\frac{100a+10b+c}{999}$

where a,b,c are the digits. Now we plug this back into the original fraction:

$\frac{10a+b}{99}+\frac{100a+10b+c}{999}=\frac{33}{37}$

Multiply both sides by 999*99. This helps simplify the right side as well because 999=111*9=37*3*9:

$9990a+999b+9900a+990b+99c=33/37*37*3*9*99=33*3*9*99$

Dividing both sides by 9 and simplifying gives:

$2210a+221b+11c=99^2=9801$

At this point, seeing the 221 factor common to both a and b is crucial to simplify. This is because taking mod 221 to both sides results in:

$2210a+221b+11c  \equiv 9801 \mod 221 \iff 11c  \equiv 77 \mod 221$

Notice that we arrived to the result $9801 \equiv 77 \mod 221$ by simply dividing 9801 by 221 and seeing 9801=44*221+77. Okay, now it's pretty clear to divide both sides by 11 in the modular equation but we have to worry about 221 being multiple of 11. Well, 220 is a multiple of 11 so clearly, 221 couldn't be. Also, 221=13*17. Now finally we simplify and get:

$c \equiv 7 \mod 221$

But we know c is between 0 and 9 because it is a digit, so c must be 7. Now it is straightforward from here to find a and b:

$2210a+221b+11(7)=9801 \iff 221(10a+b)=9724 \iff 10a+b=44$

and since a and b are both between 0 and 9, we have a=b=4. Finally we have the 3 digit integer $\boxed{447}$

Solution 2

Note that $\frac{33}{37}=\frac{891}{999} = 0.\overline{891}$. Also note that the period of $0.abab\overline{ab}+0.abcabc\overline{abc}$ is at most $6$. Therefore, we only need to worry about the sum $0.ababab+ 0.abcabc$. Adding the two, we get \[\begin{tabular}{ccccccc}&A&B&A&B&A&B\\ +&A&B&C&A&B&C\\ \hline &8&9&1&8&9&1\end{tabular}\] From this, we can see that $A=4$, $B=4$, and $C=7$, so our desired answer is $\boxed{447}$