2013 AMC 8 Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 2013 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2013 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

13.

When Clara totaled her scores, she inadvertently reversed the units digit and the tens digit of one score. By which of the following might her incorrect sum have differed from the correct one?
4545
4646
4747
4848
4949
Answer: A
Concepts:place valuedivisibility
Small hint:
Reversing tens and units changes a number by a multiple of 99.
Big hint:
Check which answer choice is divisible by 99.
Video solution:
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Written solution:
If the last two digits of the score are 10a+b10a+b, then reversing those digits gives 10b+a10b+a. The difference is (10a+b)−(10b+a)=9(a−b), \begin{aligned} &(10a+b)-(10b+a) \\ &= 9(a-b), \end{aligned} so the incorrect sum must differ from the correct sum by a multiple of 99.
Among the answer choices, only 4545 is divisible by 99.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
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