2024 AIME II Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2024 AIME II 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 2024 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

Find the number of ways to place a digit in each cell of a 2×32 \times 3 grid so that the sum of the two numbers formed by reading left to right is 999,999, and the sum of the three numbers formed by reading top to bottom is 99.99. The grid below is an example of such an arrangement because 8+991=9998 + 991 = 999 and 9+9+81=99.9 + 9 + 81 = 99.

Answer: 45
Concepts:digitsplace valuestars and bars
Difficulty rating: 2300
Solution:

Let the top row hold digits a,b,ca, b, c and the bottom row d,e,f.d, e, f. In the sum of the two row numbers, the units digits satisfy c+f9(mod10),c + f \equiv 9 \pmod{10}, and since c+f18c + f \le 18 in fact c+f=9c + f = 9 with no carry. Repeating the argument in the tens and hundreds places gives b+e=9b + e = 9 and a+d=9.a + d = 9.

The three column numbers add to 10(a+b+c)+(d+e+f)10(a + b + c) + (d + e + f) =99.= 99. Writing S=a+b+c,S = a + b + c, the bottom digits sum to 27S,27 - S, so 10S+27S=9910S + 27 - S = 99 and S=8.S = 8.

Conversely, any digits with a+b+c=8a + b + c = 8 determine the bottom row by d=9a,d = 9 - a, e=9b,e = 9 - b, f=9c,f = 9 - c, and both conditions hold. The number of solutions of a+b+c=8a + b + c = 8 in nonnegative digits is (102)=45.\binom{10}{2} = 45.

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