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# If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit

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If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2009, 20:35
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If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?

(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 11
(D) 22
(E) 222
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 30 Jul 2012, 04:29, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2009, 20:40
where did this question come from wow I have like no idea where to begin I would assume 123 and 987 which are two combinations are both both divisible by 3 as the GCD so 3?
A?
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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2009, 21:34
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rvthryet wrote:
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?
(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 11
(D) 22
(E) 222

I have never really understood the thinking behind this...
[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA E

Using THREE non-zero digits a,b,c only, we can construct 3!=6 numbers: abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba. Their sum will be:

$$x=(100a+10b+c)+(100a+10c+b)+(100b+10a+c)+(100b+10c+a)+(100c+10a+b)+(100c+10b+a)=$$
$$=200*(a+b+c)+20*(a+b+c)+2*(a+b+c)=$$
$$=222*(a+b+c)$$

Largest integer by which x MUST be divisible is $$222$$.

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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2009, 21:47
Bunuel wrote:
rvthryet wrote:
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the distinct
nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?
(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 11
(D) 22
(E) 222

I have never really understood the thinking behind this...
[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA E

Using THREE non-zero digits a,b,c only, we can construct 3!=6 numbers: abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba. Their sum would be:

$$x=(100a+10b+c)+(100a+10c+b)+(100b+10a+c)+(100b+10c+a)+(100c+10a+b)+(100c+10b+a)=$$
$$=200*(a+b+c)+20*(a+b+c)+2*(a+b+c)=$$
$$=222*(a+b+c)$$

Largest integer by which x MUST be divisible is $$222$$.

Good explanation, exactly how I solved it. I love questions with elegant solutions like this. +1
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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2009, 21:59
Expert's post
We can also solve this one without math using symmetry: hundreds, tens and units are symmetric, so sum can be written as (y)*111. We need to check that y is even. For example, for fixed a at hundred position, there is two bc,cb combinations. Therefore, a is included twice (even number of times) into sum of hundreds. So, it is 222

By the way, it is the first time when I add something after Bunuel
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03 Mar 2010, 04:26
1
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E

Maybe there is a faster way to do it but I did it like this:

How many ways can you arrange abc?
abc
acb
bac
bca
cab
cba

which are equivalent to:
100a + 10b + c
100a + 10c + b
100b + 10a + c
100b + 10c + a
100c + 10a + b
100c + 10b + a

if you add them all together you get 222a + 222b + 222c
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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31 Mar 2012, 03:27
To Bunuel,

I've gone thorugh ur notes for each Quant topic and I try to solve topic wise questions from gmatclub. Sometimes I'm not able to figure out how to start with the problem, or I should say how to apply the properties learned since, the techniques you give in your solution for a given problem are not there in properties or formulaes. What do you recommend ? I plan to give my Gmat nxt mnth end. This Tuesday, Veritas prep test I took I scored 600, Q44, verbal 33.

Kindly assist.
Thanks.
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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30 Jul 2012, 04:26
.Though I was able to solve it (in a random way), but was unable to come up with a concrete approach.
@NickK kudos for that perfect one. This is how I did.....

The question asked for the largest divisor and thus we need to form 6 largest number that could be made using 3 distinct nonzero digits....987+978+897+879+798+789 = 5328...start from the largest number provided in the answer..222 divides 5328 completely hence is the answer
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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19 Sep 2013, 10:20
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Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2013, 06:40
ratinarace wrote:
.Though I was able to solve it (in a random way), but was unable to come up with a concrete approach.
@NickK kudos for that perfect one. This is how I did.....

The question asked for the largest divisor and thus we need to form 6 largest number that could be made using 3 distinct nonzero digits....987+978+897+879+798+789 = 5328...start from the largest number provided in the answer..222 divides 5328 completely hence is the answer

Agree, substitution works the best for 'must be true' problems.
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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2013, 00:27
Bunuel wrote:
rvthryet wrote:
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?
(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 11
(D) 22
(E) 222

I have never really understood the thinking behind this...
[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA E

Using THREE non-zero digits a,b,c only, we can construct 3!=6 numbers: abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba. Their sum will be:

$$x=(100a+10b+c)+(100a+10c+b)+(100b+10a+c)+(100b+10c+a)+(100c+10a+b)+(100c+10b+a)=$$
$$=200*(a+b+c)+20*(a+b+c)+2*(a+b+c)=$$
$$=222*(a+b+c)$$

Largest integer by which x MUST be divisible is $$222$$.

Hi Bunuel,
Can you please explain me what will be the value of "x" in this question. If it were asked what is the value of x?

Thanks!
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Re: this is what it has come down to [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2013, 03:12
Expert's post
shameekv wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
rvthryet wrote:
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?
(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 11
(D) 22
(E) 222

I have never really understood the thinking behind this...
[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA E

Using THREE non-zero digits a,b,c only, we can construct 3!=6 numbers: abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba. Their sum will be:

$$x=(100a+10b+c)+(100a+10c+b)+(100b+10a+c)+(100b+10c+a)+(100c+10a+b)+(100c+10b+a)=$$
$$=200*(a+b+c)+20*(a+b+c)+2*(a+b+c)=$$
$$=222*(a+b+c)$$

Largest integer by which x MUST be divisible is $$222$$.

Hi Bunuel,
Can you please explain me what will be the value of "x" in this question. If it were asked what is the value of x?

Thanks!

We cannot say what x is.

If a, b, and c, are 1, 2, and 3 respectively, then x = 123 + 132 + 213 + 231 + 312 + 321 = 1,332 = 6*222 (the least possible value of x).
...
If a, b, and c, are 7, 8, and 9 respectively, then x = 789 + 798 + 879 + 897 + 978 + 987 = 5,328 = 24*222 (the greatest possible value of x).

Hope it helps.
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2013, 03:27
Hi Bunuel,

Thanks for the clarification. I thought it is the sum of all such 3-digit numbers that have distinct numbers.

What in the case "x is the sum of all the 3-digit numbers that have distinct numbers". How do you calculate the value of x in such case. I tried many things but couldn't work it out.

I saw such type of question recently where x was required to be calculated but the digits could be repeated and that made it simple. But I couldn't figure out with this restriction. Could you please help me out on that?

Thanks,
Shameek
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2014, 12:52
Shamee, to solve the problem in a simpler manner why don't you assume the numbers a, b and c to be 1, 2 and 3 respectively?

Thus, the distinct numbers that can be formed would be -
123
132
213
231
312
321

If you sum these up you get a total of 1332.

Then proceed to plug in the answer options to find the greatest number that divides 1332.

From the options -
(A) 3 - Yes
(B) 6 - Yes
(C) 11 - No
(D) 22 - No
(E) 222 - Yes

Clearly, since 222 is the greatest, E is the right option.
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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18 Jan 2016, 18:30
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit [#permalink]

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18 Jan 2016, 22:29
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Expert's post
pritishpratap wrote:
Shamee, to solve the problem in a simpler manner why don't you assume the numbers a, b and c to be 1, 2 and 3 respectively?

Thus, the distinct numbers that can be formed would be -
123
132
213
231
312
321

If you sum these up you get a total of 1332.

Then proceed to plug in the answer options to find the greatest number that divides 1332.

From the options -
(A) 3 - Yes
(B) 6 - Yes
(C) 11 - No
(D) 22 - No
(E) 222 - Yes

Clearly, since 222 is the greatest, E is the right option.

Here is the catch in "assuming values" in this question:
The question is a "must be true" question. How do you know that what holds for values 1, 2 and 3 will be true for values say 2, 3 and 7 too? What if sum of numbers formed by 2, 3 and 7 is not divisible by 222? You do need to apply logic to confirm "must be true".
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Re: If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit   [#permalink] 18 Jan 2016, 22:29
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