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2005 PMWC Problems/Problem I15

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Problem

The sum of the two three-digit integers, \text{6A2} and \text{B34}, is divisible by 18. What is the largest possible product of \text{A} and \text{B}?

Solution

A number is divisible by 18 iff it is divisible by 2 and 9. Divisibility by 2 is already satisfied, so we need the number to be divisible by 9; the divisibility rule for 9 states that we only need the sum of the digits to be divisible by 9. The units digit is 6; so the sum, s, of the digits of c = (6+b) \cdot 10 + (A+3), satisfies s \equiv 3 \pmod{9}. The only reasonable values for s = 3, 12.

\begin{eqnarray*}6 && A\\+ B && 3 \end{eqnarray*}

Casework:

  • s = 3. It quickly becomes apparent that c = 111, which gives us A = 8, B = 4 (8,4).
  • s = 12. Suppose A \ge 7. Then A + 3 gives either 0, 1, 2, and we carry over the one to 6 + B. So the sum of the digits of 7 + B must add up to > 10, which quickly shows us that this isn't possible.
Hence, A < 7. Greedy algorithm: if A = 6, then A + 3 = 9, so the sum of the digits of B + 6 must be 12. So B = 6 \longrightarrow (6,6). The other possible pairs are (5,7)(4,8)(3,9)(2,1)(1,2).

Quickly taking the product of these, we find that (6,6) \Longrightarrow 36 gives us the largest product of AB.

See also

2005 PMWC (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem I14
Followed by
Problem T1
I: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
T: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Want to learn how to tackle those tough MATHCOUNTS and AMC counting and probability problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Counting & Probability by David Patrick.
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