2018 AIME I Problems/Problem 2

Problem

The number $n$ can be written in base $14$ as $\underline{a}\text{ }\underline{b}\text{ }\underline{c}$ , can be written in base $15$ as $\underline{a}\text{ }\underline{c}\text{ }\underline{b}$ , and can be written in base $6$ as $\underline{a}\text{ }\underline{c}\text{ }\underline{a}\text{ }\underline{c}\text{ }$ , where $a > 0$ . Find the base- $10$ representation of $n$ .

Solution 1

We have these equations: $196a+14b+c=225a+15c+b=222a+37c$ . Taking the last two we get $3a+b=22c$ . Because $c \neq 0$ otherwise $a \ngtr 0$ , and $a \leq 5$ , $c=1$ .

Then we know $3a+b=22$ . Taking the first two equations we see that $29a+14c=13b$ . Combining the two gives $a=4, b=10, c=1$ . Then we see that $222 \times 4+37 \times1=\boxed{925}$ .

Solution 2

We know that $196a+14b+c=225a+15c+b=222a+37c$ . Combining the first and third equations give that $196a+14b+c=222a+37c$ , or $7b=13a+18c$ The second and third gives $222a+37c=225a+15c+b$ , or $22c-3a=b$ $154c-21a=7b=13a+18c$ $4c=a$ We can have $a=4,8,12$ , but only $a=4$ falls within the possible digits of base $6$ . Thus $a=4$ , $c=1$ , and thus you can find $b$ which equals $10$ . Thus, our answer is $4\cdot225+1\cdot15+10=\boxed{925}$ .

Solution 3 (Official MAA)

The problem is equivalent to finding a solution to the system of Diophantine equations $196a+14b+c=225a+15c+b$ and $225a+15c+b=216a+36c+6a+c,$ where $1\le a\le 5,\,0\le b\le 13,$ and $0\le c\le 5.$ Simplifying the second equation gives $b=22c-3a.$ Substituting for $b$ in the first equation and simplifying then gives $a=4c,$ so $a = 4$ and $c = 1,$ and the base- $10$ representation of $n$ is $222 \cdot 4 + 37 \cdot 1 = 925.$ It may be verified that $b=10\le 13.$

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVtbD8x9fCM ~Shreyas S

2018 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 1	Followed by Problem 3
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