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Re: Each of the positive integers a, b, and c is a three-digit integer. If
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08 Aug 2020, 04:52
Since a, b, and c are each three-digit integers, they contain a total of nine digits among them. There are nine different digits from 1 through 9, so each of those digits must appear exactly once among all three numbers; therefore, there also cannot be any repeated digits.
Our goal is to minimize the sum (total) of all three numbers. The central principle is that the hundreds digits have a greater impact on the sum than do the tens digits, which, in turn, have a greater impact than do the units digits. For instance, 912 is larger than 192; while the two numbers contain the same digits, the hundreds digit has a much greater impact, and so the first number is much larger than the second. Therefore, the key is to make the hundreds digits as small as possible; then, from whatever digits remain, to choose the smallest tens digits; and, finally, to use the remaining digits for the units places.
The smallest digits are 1, 2, and 3, so those should be the hundreds digits for each of the three numbers. Now, we have 1__, 2__, and 3__. After these digits are in place, the smallest remaining digits are 4, 5, and 6, which become the tens digits. These can be paired with the hundreds digits in any order; one possibility is: 14_, 25_, 36_. Once these are used, the only remaining digits are 7, 8, and 9, which become the units digits of the three numbers; again, these can be paired in any order and one possibility is: 149, 258, 367. Add the three numbers to get 774. (It doesn't matter how we pair the numbers at each step; the final sum will still be 774.)
Alternatively we can make the addition step easier using our knowledge of place values. Because we want to use 1, 2, and 3 as the hundreds digits, we have 100, 200, and 300. Using 4, 5, and 6 as the tens digits gives us 40, 50, and 60. Finally, 7, 8, and 9 are the units digits. Add up these 9 numbers: 100 + 200 + 300 + 40 + 50 + 60 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 774. Note: this will give us the same sum as, for example, 149 + 258 + 367 because the number 149 consists of 100 + 40 + 9, the number 258 consists of 200 + 50 + 8 and the number 367 consists of 300 + 60 + 7. In other words, any combination that we choose at the first stage, as long as we are choosing the minimum options at each step, will ultimately result in 100 + 200 + 300 + 40 + 50 + 60 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 774.
The correct answer is C.