2012 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 11

Revision as of 22:23, 27 February 2012 by Mrudoy (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

In the equation, 132 (base A) + 43 (base B) = 69 (base A+B), A and B are consecutive integers. What is A+B?


Solution

Change the equation to base 10: \[A^2 + 3A +2 + 4B +3= 6A + 6B + 9\] \[A^2 - 3A - 2B - 4=0\]

Either $B = A + 1$ or $B = A - 1$, so either $A^2 - 5A - 6, B = A + 1$ or $A^2 - 5A - 2, B = A - 1$. The second case has no integer roots, and the first can be re-expressed as $(A-6)(A+1) = 0, B = A + 1$. Since A must be positive, $A = 6, B = 7$ and $A+B = 13$; C.