2005 AMC 12A Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2005 AMC 12A 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 2005 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

How many three-digit numbers satisfy the property that the middle digit is the average of the first and the last digits?

4141

4242

4343

4444

4545

Answer: E
Concepts:digitsparitybasic counting
Difficulty rating: 1620
Solution:

The middle digit is an integer only when the first and last digits are both odd or both even. Each such pair determines the middle digit uniquely.

There are 55=255 \cdot 5 = 25 odd-odd choices for the first and last digits. For even-even, the first digit cannot be 0,0, giving 45=204 \cdot 5 = 20 choices.

The total is 25+20=45.25 + 20 = 45.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

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