2011 AMC 12B Problem 4

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 4 of the 2011 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2011 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:prime factorizationdigits

Difficulty rating: 1040

4.

In multiplying two positive integers aa and b,b, Ron reversed the digits of the two-digit number a.a. His erroneous product was 161.161. What is the correct value of the product of aa and b?b?

116116

161161

204204

214214

224224

Solution:

Since 161=723,161=7\cdot23, the only two-digit factor is 23.23. This must be the reversed value of a,a, so the true value of aa is 32,32, and b=7.b=7.

The correct product is 327=224. 32\cdot7=224.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

Problem 4 in Other Years