Solution
Given• Two three digit palindromes have a difference of 11, with their units digits summing to 11.
To find• The sum of the digits of both palindromes.
Approach and Working out Let the three-digit palindromes be aba and pqp, where a and b are the digits of the 3-digit number abc, while p and q are the digits of the 3-digit number pqp.
Let’s assume that aba > pqp.
• Since aba - pqp = 11, we have either a = p or a = p + 1, else difference between two 3-digit numbers will be at least 100.
We also have 100a + 10b + a – (100p + 10q + p) = 11, since the difference between the palindromes is 11.
Therefore, 101(a – p) + 10(b – q) = 11.
Since the sum of the units digit = 11, we have a + p = 11.
• If a = p, both a and p cannot represent the digits.
• Thus, a = p + 1.
• Thus, p + p + 1 = 11.
• We get, a = 6, p = 5.
Using the first relation, we get, 101(1) + 10 (b-q) 11.
• Thus, 90 = 10(q -b)
• q – b = 9
The difference between the tens digit = 9.
• The maximum difference between the two single digits = 9 – 0 = 9.
• Thus, q – b = 9 represents the maximum difference.
• Thus q must be 9 while b must be 0.
Therefore, the numbers are aba = 606, and pqp = 595.
The sum of the digits of the palindrome = 6 + 6 + 0 +5 + 5 + 9 = 31.
Correct Answer: Option E