2020 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 24

Revision as of 01:25, 1 February 2020 by Bibear (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

Let $n$ be the least positive integer greater than $1000$ for which\[\gcd(63, n+120) =21\quad \text{and} \quad \gcd(n+63, 120)=60.\]What is the sum of the digits of $n$?

$\textbf{(A) } 12 \qquad\textbf{(B) } 15 \qquad\textbf{(C) } 18 \qquad\textbf{(D) } 21\qquad\textbf{(E) } 24$

Solution

We know that $gcd(63, n+120)=21$, so we can write $n+120\equiv0(mod 21)$. Simplifying, we get $n\equiv6(mod 21)$. Similarly, we can write $n+63\equiv0(mod60)$, or $n\equiv-3(mod60)$. Solving these two modular congruences, $n\equiv237(mod 420)$ which we know is the only solution by CRT (Chinese Remainder Theorem). Now, since the problem is asking for the least positive integer greater than $1000$, we find the least solution is $n=1077$. However, we are have not considered cases where $gcd(63, n+120) =63$ or $gcd(n+63, 120) =120$. $1077+120\equiv0(mod 63)$ so we try $n=1077+420=1497$.

$1497+63\equiv0(mod 120)$ so again we add $420$ to $n$. It turns out that $n=1497+420=1917$ does indeed satisfy the conditions, so our answer is $1+9+1+7=\boxed{\textsf{(C) } 18}$.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/tk3yOGG2K-s - $Phineas1500$

See Also

2020 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 23
Followed by
Problem 25
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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