2021 AMC 10 A Fall

Complete problem set with solutions and individual problem pages

Problem 8 Easy

A two-digit positive integer is said to be cuddly if it is equal to the sum of its nonzero tens digit and the square of its units digit. How many two-digit positive integers are cuddly?(2021 AMC Fall 10A, Question #8)

  • A.

    0

  • B.

    1

  • C.

    2

  • D.

    3

  • E.

    4

Answer:B

Solution 1:

Note that the number x \underline{y}=10 x+y. By the problem statement, 10 x+y=x+y^{2} \Longrightarrow 9 x=y^{2}-y \Longrightarrow 9 x=y(y-1) . From this we see that y(y-1) must be divisible by 9 . This only happens when y=9. Then, x=8. Thus, there is only (\mathbf{B}) 1 cuddly number, which is 89 .

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Solution 2:

If the tens digit is a and the ones digit is b then the number is 10+b so we have the equation 10 a+b=a+b^{2}. We can guess and check after narrowing the possible cuddly numbers down to 13,14,24,25,35,36,46,47,57,68,78,89, and 99 . (We can narrow it down to these by just thinking about how a 's value affects b 's value and then check all the possiblities.) Checking all of these we get that there is only (B) 1 2-digit cuddly number, and it is 89 .