# Difference between revisions of "2012 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 14"

## Problem

Bernardo and Silvia play the following game. An integer between $0$ and $999$ inclusive is selected and given to Bernardo. Whenever Bernardo receives a number, he doubles it and passes the result to Silvia. Whenever Silvia receives a number, she addes $50$ to it and passes the result to Bernardo. The winner is the last person who produces a number less than $1000$. Let $N$ be the smallest initial number that results in a win for Bernardo. What is the sum of the digits of $N$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 8\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 11$

## Solution

### Solution 1

The last number that Bernado says has to be between 950 and 999. Note that 1->2->52->104->154->308->358->716->776 contains 4 doubling actions. Thus, we have $x \rightarrow 2x \rightarrow 2x+50 \rightarrow 4x+100 \rightarrow 4x+150 \rightarrow 8x+300 \rightarrow 8x+350 \rightarrow 16x+700$.

Thus, $950<16x+700<1000$. Then, $16x>250 \implies x \geq 16$. If $x=16$, we have $16x+700=956$. Working backwards from 956,

$956 \rightarrow 478 \rightarrow 428 \rightarrow 214 \rightarrow 164 \rightarrow 82 \rightarrow 32 \rightarrow 16$.

So the starting number is 16, and our answer is $1+6=\boxed{7}$, which is A.

### Solution 2

Work backwards. The last number Bernardo produces must be in the range $[950,999]$. That means that before this, Silvia must produce a number in the range $[475,499]$. Before this, Bernardo must produce a number in the range $[425,449]$. Before this, Silvia must produce a number in the range $[213,224]$. Before this, Bernardo must produce a number in the range $[163,174]$. Before this, Silvia must produce a number in the range $[82,87]$. Before this, Bernardo must produce a number in the range $[32,37]$. Before this, Silvia must produce a number in the range $[16,18]$. Bernardo could not have added 50 to any number before this to obtain a number in the range $[16,18]$, hence the minimum $N$ is 16 with the sum of digits being $\boxed{7}$.