If n is an integer such that the sum of the digits of n is 2, and , the number of different values of n is
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This is tough! I initially thought about combinations with repetition but the lower bound 10^10 < n is tricky. Can someone explain why the number of digits matters here?
Since n is between 10^10 and 10^11, it must have exactly 11 digits. That's key.
Yes, and the first digit can't be zero. That changes the count.
I got 10 but the answer says 11? I must have missed something. The sum of digits is 2, so the digits could be a 2 and ten 0s, or two 1s and nine 0s. But the 2 can't be in the first position if the rest are zeros? Actually it can, since 2 followed by zeros is 20000000000, which is >10^10 and <10^11. So that's valid. Then for two 1s, the first digit must be 1, and the other 1 can be in any of the remaining 10 positions. That gives 10 numbers. Plus the one with a 2 gives 11 total. But wait, is 20000000000 allowed? Yes, because 10^10 = 10000000000, so 2*10^10 is bigger. So why did I think 10? I forgot the single 2 case. So answer should be 11. But I chose 10. Oops.
I think the answer is 11. The digit sum is 2. Possible digit multisets: {2,0,0,...,0} and {1,1,0,...,0}. For the first, the 2 must be the first digit (since if it's not, the number would start with 0, which is not allowed for an 11-digit number). So 1 number. For the second, the first digit must be 1 (can't be 0), and the other 1 can be in any of the remaining 10 positions. So 10 numbers. Total 11. But is there any other combination? What about {1,0,1,0,...}? That's the same as two 1s. So 11.
Wait, why can't the 2 be in a non-first position? If it's not first, the first digit would be 0, making it not an 11-digit number. So correct.
What it tests
Your grasp of exponent rules — multiplying and dividing powers, power-of-a-power, and negative/zero exponents.
Common trap
Adding exponents when multiplying bases that have the same exponent, or confusing (x^a)^b with x^(a·b).