2022 AIME I Problem 7

Attempt Problem 7 of the 2022 AIME I 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 2022 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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7.

Let a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,ia, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i be distinct integers from 11 to 9.9. The minimum possible positive value of abcdefghi\frac{a \cdot b \cdot c - d \cdot e \cdot f}{g \cdot h \cdot i} can be written as mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 289
Concepts:optimizationextremal argumentbounding to limit cases
Difficulty rating: 2560
Solution:

Try to make the numerator equal to 11 while keeping large digits in the denominator. The products 236=362 \cdot 3 \cdot 6 = 36 and 157=351 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 35 differ by 11 and leave 4,8,94, 8, 9 for the denominator, giving the value 3635489=1288.\frac{36 - 35}{4 \cdot 8 \cdot 9} = \frac{1}{288}.

To beat this, a fraction would need numerator 11 with denominator greater than 288.288. The denominators exceeding 288288 are {7,8,9},\{7,8,9\}, {6,8,9},\{6,8,9\}, {5,8,9},\{5,8,9\}, {6,7,9},\{6,7,9\}, {5,7,9},\{5,7,9\}, and {6,7,8}.\{6,7,8\}. Splitting the remaining six digits into two triples in each case, the closest product pairs are 3030 and 24,24, 3030 and 28,28, 3636 and 28,28, 3030 and 28,28, 3636 and 32,32, and 3636 and 30,30, respectively — differences of at least 2,2, and even 2432=1216\frac{2}{432} = \frac{1}{216} exceeds 1288.\frac{1}{288}.

So the minimum positive value is 1288,\frac{1}{288}, and m+n=1+288=289.m + n = 1 + 288 = 289.

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