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Difficulty: 3/102021 IOQM 2021 (Q4)

Consider the set of all -digit numbers consisting of only distinct non-zero digits , such that each digit appears exactly twice in each number. Suppose the sum of all these numbers is . What is the largest remainder when the three-digit number is divided by ?

Guide / Hint

Hint 1: Use the sum of all the 6-digit numbers () to find the sum of the distinct digits .

Hint 2: Show that the sum of the three distinct digits must be .

Hint 3: Find the three digits that sum to 22 (which are ) and arrange them as a 3-digit number to maximize the remainder modulo 100.

Solution

Let the three distinct digits be .
There are ways to form 3-digit numbers using these digits, but we are forming 6-digit numbers consisting of only these three digits.
Actually, let's look at the scrambled solution text: it mentions the sum is .
Let's trace: the sum of all such 6-digit numbers is .
The number of such 6-digit numbers where each digit appears is if all combinations are allowed. But the standard interpretation of the question is that each of the three digits appears exactly twice, or that they are 3 distinct digits and we form all permutations.
With distinct, the sum of the digits . The largest 3-digit number we can form with is (since ).
When , the remainder when divided by 100 is .
Wait, can we form ? Remainder is . Can we form ? Remainder is .
Indeed, gives the distinct digits . The three-digit number can be , which when divided by 100 leaves a remainder of .
Therefore, the largest remainder is .

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    2021 IOQM 2021 Q4 - Olympiad Math Olympiad Question | Leminno