2024 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 1

Problem

What is the value of $9901\cdot101-99\cdot10101?$

$\textbf{(A)}~2\qquad\textbf{(B)}~20\qquad\textbf{(C)}~200\qquad\textbf{(D)}~202\qquad\textbf{(E)}~2020$

Solution 1 (Direct Computation)

The likely fastest method will be direct computation. $9901\cdot101$ evaluates to $1000001$ and $99\cdot10101$ evaluates to $999999$ . The difference is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }2}.$

Solution by juwushu.

Solution 2 (Distributive Property)

We have $$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)\begin{align*} 9901\cdot101-99\cdot10101 &= (10000-99)\cdot101-99\cdot(10000+101) \\ &= 10000\cdot101-99\cdot101-99\cdot10000-99\cdot101 \\ &= (10000\cdot101-99\cdot10000)-2\cdot99\cdot101 \\ &= 2\cdot10000-2\cdot9999 \\ &= \boxed{\textbf{(A) }2}. \end{align*} ~MRENTHUSIASM

2024 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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2024 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 1

Contents

Problem

Solution 1 (Direct Computation)

Solution 2 (Distributive Property)

See also