Question

A telephone number has the form $ABC-DEF-GHIJ,$ where each letter represents a different digit. The digits in each part of the number are in decreasing order; that is, $A\gt B\gt C,$ $D\gt E\gt F,$ and $G\gt H\gt I\gt J.$ Furthermore, $D,$ $E,$ and $F$ are consecutive even digits; $G,$ $H,$ $I,$ and $J$ are consecutive odd digits; and $A+B+C=9.$ Find $A.$

$4$

$5$

$6$

$7$

$8$

Solution:

The consecutive odd digits $GHIJ$ are $9753$ or $7531,$ leaving one odd digit ( $1$ or $9$ ) for $A, B, C.$ Since $A+B+C=9,$ the odd digit there must be $1,$ so the two even digits in $ABC$ sum to $8.$

The consecutive even digits $DEF$ are $864, 642,$ or $420,$ leaving even-digit pairs $\{2,0\},$ $\{8,0\},$ or $\{8,6\}$ for $ABC.$ Only $\{8,0\}$ sums to $8,$ so $ABC=810$ and $A=8.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2001 AMC 10 Problem 13

Solution:

Problem 13 in Other Years