Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 03:03 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 03:03
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
gracie
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 1,028
Own Kudos:
2,022
 [15]
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 1,028
Kudos: 2,022
 [15]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
13
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
omkartadsare
Joined: 11 Jun 2019
Last visit: 15 Nov 2021
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
51
 [8]
Given Kudos: 135
Location: India
Posts: 28
Kudos: 51
 [8]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
altairahmad
Joined: 27 Mar 2017
Last visit: 29 Jul 2021
Posts: 258
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 406
Location: Saudi Arabia
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V39
GPA: 3.36
Products:
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V39
Posts: 258
Kudos: 88
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
vivek2611
Joined: 20 May 2019
Last visit: 11 Dec 2021
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
25
 [4]
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 18
Kudos: 25
 [4]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Sum of units digits should be 11 and difference of both numbers should be 11.

Units digits of both numbers can be (9,2) (8,3) (7,4) (6,5)..
Remember, the difference should be 11. So, we are looking for a units digits set from the above whose difference is 1.

That is (6,5)

Since the numbers are palindromes we have
6X6
5Y5

And as the difference of both numbers is 11.. 606 and 595 should be the numbers, Sum of all digits is 31

IMO E.
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,657
Own Kudos:
20,872
 [1]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,657
Kudos: 20,872
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

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
User avatar
rvgmat12
Joined: 19 Oct 2014
Last visit: 27 Mar 2026
Posts: 352
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 189
Location: United Arab Emirates
Products:
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward or backward, such as 757. Two three digit palindromes have a difference of 11, with their units digits summing to 11. The sum of the digits of both palindromes is


Clue = Sum of units digit = 11 and difference is 11

So they must be 6x6 and 5y5

6x6-5y5 = 11 so they must be 606 and 595

Sum of digits = 12+10+9 = 31

E
User avatar
aparnananya
Joined: 22 Sep 2025
Last visit: 27 Nov 2025
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
why cant we take other numbers like 636 and 525

gracie
A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward or backward, such as 757. Two three digit palindromes have a difference of 11, with their units digits summing to 11. The sum of the digits of both palindromes is

A. 15
B. 19
C. 23
D. 27
E. 31
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,803
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,803
Kudos: 810,923
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aparnananya
why cant we take other numbers like 636 and 525



Because the difference between those number is not 11.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109803 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts