1989 AIME Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1989 AIME below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1989 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

Suppose nn is a positive integer and dd is a single digit in base 10.10. Find nn if n810=0.d25d25d25.\frac{n}{810}=0.d25d25d25\ldots.

Answer: 750
Concepts:digitsdivisibilityrepeating decimal
Difficulty rating: 1970
Small Hint:

Convert the repeating three-digit block into a fraction with denominator 999999

Big Hint:

Use the integrality of nn to determine which digit makes 4d+14d+1 divisible by 3737

Solution:

The repeating decimal is 100d+25999.\frac{100d+25}{999}. Thus n=810(100d+25)999=750(4d+1)37.\begin{aligned}n&=\frac{810(100d+25)}{999}\\&=\frac{750(4d+1)}{37}.\end{aligned} Since 0d9,0\leq d\leq9, the only way 4d+14d+1 can be divisible by 3737 is 4d+1=37,4d+1=37, so d=9d=9 and n=750.n=750.

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