2017 AMC 10 A

Complete problem set with solutions and individual problem pages

Problem 20 Hard

Let S(n) equal the sum of the digits of positive integer n. For example, S(1507) = 13. For a particular positive integer n, S(n)= 1274 . Which of the following could be the value of S(n + 1)? (2017 AMC 10A Problem, Question#20)

  • A.

    1

  • B.

    3

  • C.

    12

  • D.

    1239

  • E.

    1265

Answer:D

Note that n≡S(n)(\rm mod 9). This can be seen from the fact that \sum _{k=0}^{n}10^{k}a_{k}\equiv\sum _{k=0}^{n}a_{k}\left( \text{m}\text{o}\text{d}\ 9\right). Thus, if S(n)=1274, then n=5(\rm mod 9), and thus n+1=S(n+1)≡6(\rm mod 9). The only answer choice that is 6 (\rm mod 9) is (\rm D)1239.

One divisibility rule for division that we can use in the problem is that a multiple of 9 has its digit always add up to a multiple of 9. We can find out that the least number of digits the number N is 142, with 141 9'\rm s and 15, assuming the rule above. No matter what arrangement or different digits we use, the divisor rule stays the same. To make the problem simpler, we can just use the 141 9'\rm s and 15. By

randomly mixing the digits up, we are likely to get: 9999…9995999…9999. By adding 1 to this number, we get: 9999.…9996000.…0000. Knowing that this number is \rm ONLY divisible by 9 when 6 is subtracted,

we can subtract 6 from every available choice, and see if the number is divisible by 9 afterwards. After subtracting 6 from every number, we can conclude that 1233 (originally 1239) is the only number divisible by 9. So our answer is (\rm D)1239.

The number n can be viewed as having some unique digits in the front, following by a certain number of nines. We can then evaluate each potential answer choice.

If(\rm A)1 is correct, then n must be some number 99999999…9, because when we add one to 99999999…9 we get 10000000…00. Thus, if 1 is the correct answer, then the equation 9x = 1274 must have an integer solution (i.e. 1274 must be divisible by 9). But since it does not, 1 is not the correct answer.

If (\rm B) 3 is corret, then n must be some number 29999999…9, because when we add one to 29999999…9, we get 30000000…00.Thus, if 3 is the correct answer, then the equation 2+9x=1274 must have an integer solution. But since it does not, 3 is not the correct answer.

Based on what we have done for evaluating the previous two answer choices, we can create an equation we can use to evaluate the final three possibilities.Notice that if S(n+1)=N, then n must be a number whose initial digits sum to N-1, and whose other, terminating digits, are all 9. Thus, we can evaluate the three final possibilities by seeing if the equation (N-1)+9x=1274 has an integer solution.

The equation does not have an integer soutionfor N=12, so (\rm C)12 is not correct. However, the equation does have an integer solutionfor N=1239(x=4) so (\rm D)1239 is the answer.