Of the three-digit integers greater than 700, how many have two digits that are equal to each other and the remaining digit different from the other two?
(A) 90
(B) 82
(C) 80
(D) 45
(E) 36Let the three digit number be represented as X Y Z.
There are 3 cases:
Case I. [ X=Y ] & Z is not equal to X & Y :
XXZ or YYZ X can be either 7, 8 or 9, so digit at X can be chosen in 3 ways
After X is chosen, Y can be chosen in 1 way
After X & Y are chosen, Z can be chosen in 9 ways
Thus, possible No of digits = (3 ways) * (1 way) * (9 ways) = 27 ....(1)
[example numbers: 774,779,882,993 etc]
Case II. [ X=Z ] & Y is not equal to X & Z:
XYX or ZYZX can be either 7, 8 or 9, so digit at X can be chosen in 3 ways
After X is chosen, Z can be chosen in 1 way
After X & Z are chosen, Z can be chosen in 9 ways
Thus, possible No of digits = (3 ways) * (9 ways) * (1 way) = 27 ....(2)
[example numbers: 747,797,828,939 etc]
Case III. [ Y =Z ]& X is not equal to Y & Z :
XYY or XZZX can be either 7, 8 or 9, so digit at X can be chosen in 3 ways
After X is chosen, Y can be chosen in 9 ways
After Y is chosen, Z can have 1 way
Thus, possible No of digits = (3 ways) * (1 way) * (9 ways) = 27 ....(3)
[example numbers: 744,799,822,933 etc]
Therefore, total numbers of possible digits [sum of Case (1), (2) & (3) above] = 27 + 27 + 27 - 1 = 80
One digit is subtracted from total number of possible digits to eliminate one possibility of XYZ = 700 to satisfy the condition that digit > 700.
Answer:
(C)