2025 AMC 8 Problem 23

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 23 of the 2025 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2025 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:difference of squaresprime

Difficulty rating: 1770

23.

How many four-digit numbers have all three of the following properties?

(I) The tens digit and ones digit are both 9.9.

(II) The number is 11 less than a perfect square.

(III) The number is the product of exactly two prime numbers.

00

11

22

33

44

Video solution:
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Written solution:

The number has the form XX99,XX99, and so the perfect square that is 11 more ends in 00,00, and so it is the square of a number ending in 0.0. Suppose that square is a2.a^2.

In order for a21a^2 - 1 to be a 44-digit number ending in 9999, the only possibilities for aa are {40,50,60,70,80,90,100}.\{40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100\}.

Since a21=(a1)(a+1),a^2 - 1 = (a-1)(a+1), we also need both a1a-1 and a+1a+1 to be prime. We are then looking for pairs of prime numbers that are right around {40,50,,100}.\{40, 50, \dots, 100\}.

Going through all the possibilities, the only ones that work are 5959 and 6161, and so there is exactly 11 way to do this. The answer is B.

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