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2006 AIME I Problems/Problem 3

Revision as of 11:15, 25 June 2017 by Mathematical-phi (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

Find the least positive integer such that when its leftmost digit is deleted, the resulting integer is $\frac{1}{29}$ of the original integer.

Solution

Suppose the original number is $N = \overline{a_na_{n-1}\ldots a_1a_0},$ where the $a_i$ are digits and the first digit, $a_n,$ is nonzero. Then the number we create is $N_0 = \overline{a_{n-1}\ldots a_1a_0},$ so \[N = 29N_0.\] But $N$ is $N_0$ with the digit $a_n$ added to the left, so $N = N_0 + a_n \cdot 10^n.$ Thus, \[N_0 + a_n\cdot 10^n = 29N_0\] \[a_n \cdot 10^n = 28N_0.\] The right-hand side of this equation is divisible by seven, so the left-hand side must also be divisible by seven. The number $10^n$ is never divisible by $7,$ so $a_n$ must be divisible by $7.$ But $a_n$ is a nonzero digit, so the only possibility is $a_n = 7.$ This gives \[7 \cdot 10^n = 28N_0\] or \[10^n = 4N_0.\] Now, we want to minimize both $n$ and $N_0,$ so we take $N_0 = 25$ and $n = 2.$ Then \[N = 7 \cdot 10^2 + 25 = \boxed{725},\] and indeed, $725 = 29 \cdot 25.$ $\square$

Solution 2

Let $N$ be the required number, and $N'$ be $N$ with the first digit deleted. Now, we know that $N<1000$ (because this is an AIME problem). Thus, $N$ has $1,$ $2$ or $3$ digits. Checking the other cases, we see that it must have $3$ digits. \\ Let $N=\overline{abc}$, so $N=100a+10b+c$. Thus, $N'=\overline{bc}=10b+c$. By the constraints of the problem, we see that $N=29N'$, so \[100a+10b+c=29(10b+c).\] Now, we subtract and divide to get \[100a=28(10b+c)\] \[25a=70b+7c.\] Clearly, $c$ must be a multiple of $5$ because both $25a$ and $70b$ are multiples of $5$. Thus, $c=5$. Now, we plug that into the equation: \[25a=70b+7(5)\] \[25a=70b+35\] \[5a=14b+7.\] By the same line of reasoning as earlier, $a=7$. We again plug that into the equation to get \[35=14b+7\] \[b=2.\] Now, since $a=7$, $b=2$, and $c=5$, our number $N=100a+10b+c=\boxed{725}$.

See also

2006 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 2 		Followed by
Problem 4
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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