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2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 24

Revision as of 16:30, 11 November 2017 by Iris2007 (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

The digits $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$, and $5$ are each used once to write a five-digit number $PQRST$. The three-digit number $PQR$ is divisible by $4$, the three-digit number $QRS$ is divisible by $5$, and the three-digit number $RST$ is divisible by $3$. What is $P$?

$\textbf{(A) }1\qquad\textbf{(B) }2\qquad\textbf{(C) }3\qquad\textbf{(D) }4\qquad \textbf{(E) }5$

Solution

We see that since $QRS$ is divisible by $5$, $S$ must equal either $0$ or $5$, but it cannot equal $0$, so $S=5$. We notice that since $PQR$ must be even, $R$ must be either $2$ or $4$. However, when $R=2$, we see that $T \equiv 2 \pmod{3}$, which cannot happen because $2$ and $5$ are already used up; so $R=4$. This gives $T \equiv 3 \pmod{4}$, meaning $T=3$. Now, we see that $Q$ could be either $1$ or $2$, but $14$ is not divisible by $4$, but $24$ is. This means that $R=4$ and $P=\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 1}$.

Solution 2

We know that out of $PQRST$ $QRS$ is divisible by $5$. Therefore $S$ is obviously 5 because $QRS$ is divisible by 5. So we now have $PQR5T$ as our number. Next, lets move on to the second piece of information that was given to us. RST is divisible by 3. So, according to the divisibility of 3 rule the sum of $RST$ has to be a multiple of 3. The only 2 big enough is 9 and 12 and since 5 is already given. The possible sums of $RT$ is 4 and 7. So, the possible values for $R$ are 1,3,4,3 and the possible values of $T$ is 3,1,3,4. So, using this we can move on to the fact that $PQR$ is divisible by 4. So, using that we know that $R$ has to be even so 4 is the only possible value for $R$. Using that we also know that 3 is the only possible value for 3. So, we know have $PQRST$ = $PQ453$ so the possible values are 1 and 2 for $P$ and $Q$. Using the divisibility rule of 4 we know that $QR$ has to be divisible by 4. So, either 14 or 24 are the possibilities, and 24 is divisible by 4. So the only value left for $P$ is 1. $P=\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 1}$.

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