2020 AMC 8 Problem 19

Attempt Problem 19 of the 2020 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 2020 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

19.

A number is called flippy if its digits alternate between two distinct digits. For example, 20202020 and 3737337373 are flippy, but 38833883 and 123123123123 are not. How many five-digit flippy numbers are divisible by 15?15?
33
44
55
66
88
Answer: B
Concepts:divisibilitydigits
Small hint:
A five-digit flippy number has form ABABAABABA
Big hint:
Divisibility by 55 forces A=5A=5
Video solution:
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Written solution:
A five-digit flippy number has the form ABABA,ABABA, where A≠0A\ne0 and A≠B.A\ne B. Divisibility by 55 requires the last digit AA to be 00 or 5.5. Since A≠0,A\ne0, we must have A=5.A=5.
The number therefore has the form 5B5B5.5B5B5. Its digit sum is 15+2B,15+2B, so divisibility by 33 requires BB to be a multiple of 3.3. The possibilities are B=0,B=0, B=3,B=3, B=6,B=6, and B=9,B=9, giving 44 numbers.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
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