Bunuel
K-numbers are positive integers with only 2's as their digits. For example, 2, 22, and 222 are K-numbers. The K-weight of a number n is the minimum number of K-numbers that must be added together to equal n. For example, the K-weight of 50 is 5, because 50 = 22 + 22 + 2 + 2 + 2. What is the K-weight of 600?
(A) 10
(B) 11
(C) 12
(D) 13
(E) 14
MANHATTAN GMAT OFFICIAL SOLUTION:Since we are looking for the minimum number of K-numbers that sum to 600, a practical place to start is with the largest K-number less than 600, or 222. There are between 2 and 3 multiples of 222 in 600, so let's subtract out the two whole multiples!
600 - 444 (= 2*222) = 156.
Now, the next largest K-number is 22. Again subtract as many whole multiples as possible:
156 - 154 (= 7*22) = 2.
The next largest K-number is obviously 2:
2 - 2 ( =1*2) = 0.
Thus, 600 = 222(2) + 22(7) + 2(1), and the K-weight of 600 is 2 + 7 + 1 = 10.
The correct answer is A.