2013 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 13

Problem

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?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 45 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 46 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 47 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 48 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 49$

Solution

Let the two digits be $\text{ab}$ .

The correct score was $10a+b$ . Clara misinterpreted it as $10b+a$ . The difference between the two is $|9a-9b|$ which factors into $|9(a-b)|$ . Therefore, the difference is a multiple of 9, the only answer choice that is a multiple of 9 is $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 45}$ .

2013 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 12	Followed by Problem 14
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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2013 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 13

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