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Bunuel
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Bunuel
Official Solution:

Achilles's age is a 2-digit number \(ab\) and Hector's age is a 2-digit number \(cd\). A 4-digit number \(abcd\) is the square of an integer. In 11 years, Achilles's age will be a 2-digit number \(xy\) and Hector's age will be a 2-digit number \(wz\). A 4-digit number \(xywz\) will also be the square of an integer. What is Achilles's age now?

A. \(18\)
B. \(20\)
C. \(22\)
D. \(25\)
E. \(30\)


\(xy=ab+11=10a+b+11\);


\(wz=cd+11=10c+d+11\);

\(abcd=1000a + 100b + 10c + d\);

\(xywz=100(10a + b + 11) + (10c+d+11)=(1000a + 100b + 10c + d) + 1111=abcd+1111\);

\(xywz - abcd=(abcd+1111)-abcd=1111\).

We are told that both \(abcd\) and \(xywz\) are perfect squares, say \(m^2\) and \(n^2\), respectively.

\(n^2-m^2=1111\);

\((n-m)(n+m)=1*1111=11*101\);

\(n-m=1\) and \(n+m=1111\) is not possible because in this case \(m = 555\) and \(n = 556\) but this numbers squared does not give a four-digit numbers (\(m^2=abcd\) and \(n^2=xywz\) );

\(n-m=11\) and \(n+m=101\). Solving gives \(m=45\) and \(n=56\);

\(abcd=m^2=45^2=2025\);

Therefore, Achilles's age now is \(ab=20\) years.


Answer: B


Thanks Bunuel,

Found this a bit hard though.

Tried it through reverse value input.

Options given were: 18, 20, 22, 25, 30

I know that it had to be 40<x<1000
A) 18
43x43 = 1849
18+11 = 29
49+11 = 70
square root 2970 is not an integer

B) 20
45x45 = 2025
Square root of 3136 = 56
Hence B
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This feels like a 800+ question.
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation. Option Putting is better way in case you can have some grip over perfect squares above 2000.

2025 clicked me, and i could get 3136=56^2. But this is not possible in exam mode.

Ideal 805 level problem
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I did not quite understand the solution. Hi, in the fourth step of the solution could you please explain this:

xywz = 100(10a+b+11) + (10c + d +11).

Specifically why are you multiplying xy by 100 and multiplying wz by 1?

The rest of the solution makes sense. Thank you.
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I did not quite understand the solution. Hi, in the fourth step of the solution could you please explain this:

xywz = 100(10a+b+11) + (10c + d +11).

Specifically why are you multiplying xy by 100 and multiplying wz by 1?

The rest of the solution makes sense. Thank you.
A 4-digit number like xywz means “digits xy followed by digits wz.”

  • xy is the left part, so it sits in the thousands and hundreds places. To shift it two places left, we multiply it by 100.
  • wz is the right part, so it just stays as it is.

Example: if xy = 34 and wz = 78, then xywz = 34*100 + 78 = 3400 + 78 = 3478.

That’s why in the solution you see xy multiplied by 100, but wz is not.
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That is really a nice tough question.
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