2006 AIME I Problem 6

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 6 of the 2006 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2006 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:repeating decimaldigitssymmetry

Difficulty rating: 2300

6.

Let S\mathcal{S} be the set of real numbers that can be represented as repeating decimals of the form 0.abc0.\overline{abc} where a,a, b,b, cc are distinct digits. Find the sum of the elements of S.\mathcal{S}.

Solution:

Each element equals 0.abc=100a+10b+c999,0.\overline{abc} = \frac{100a + 10b + c}{999}, and there are 1098=72010 \cdot 9 \cdot 8 = 720 ordered triples of distinct digits. By symmetry, each digit 00 through 99 appears in each of the three positions exactly 72010=72\frac{720}{10} = 72 times.

The numerators therefore total 72(0+1++9)(100+10+1)=7245111=359640,72 (0 + 1 + \cdots + 9)(100 + 10 + 1) = 72 \cdot 45 \cdot 111 = 359640, so the sum of the elements is 359640999=360.\frac{359640}{999} = 360.

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