2023 AMC 10A Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 of the 2023 AMC 10A 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 2023 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

23.

Positive integer divisors aa and bb of NN are called complementary if ab=N.ab = N. Given that NN has a pair of complementary divisors that differ by 2020 and a pair of complementary divisors that differ by 23,23, find the sum of the digits of N.N.
1111
1313
1515
1717
1919
Answer: C
Concepts:difference of squaresfactorDiophantine Equation
Small hint:
Complementary divisors with product NN differing by 2020 are bb and b+20,b + 20, so N+100=(b+10)2N + 100 = (b + 10)^2
Big hint:
Then 4N+5294N + 529 is also a perfect square; combine the two to get a difference of squares equal to 129129
Solution:
Complementary divisors differing by 2020 are bb and b+20b + 20 with product NN, so N=b2+20bN = b^2 + 20b and N+100=(b+10)2N + 100 = (b + 10)^2. A pair differing by 2323 gives 4N+529=(2d+23)24N + 529 = (2d + 23)^2. Set N+100=k2N + 100 = k^2. Then 4k2+129=m24k^2 + 129 = m^2, so (m−2k)(m+2k)(m - 2k)(m + 2k) =129= 129 =3⋅43= 3 \cdot 43. The positive factor pair 3,433,43 gives k=10k=10, hence the inadmissible value N=0N=0. The pair 1,1291,129 gives m=65m = 65, k=32k = 32, hence N=322−100=924N = 32^2 - 100 = 924. Check it: 924=22⋅42=21⋅44924 = 22 \cdot 42 = 21 \cdot 44, and the digit sum is 9+2+4=159 + 2 + 4 = 15. Thus, C is the correct answer.
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