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If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using each of the
distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, what is the largest integer by which x must be divisible?
  • a)
    3
  • b)
    6
  • c)
    11
  • d)
    22
  • e)
    222
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that c...
There are 3!, or 6, different three-digit numbers that can be constructed using the digits a, b, and c:

The value of any one of these numbers can be represented using place values. For example, the value of abc is 100a + 10b + c.
Therefore, you can represent the sum of the 6 numbers as:


=222(a+b+c)
  x is equal to 222(a + b + c). Therefore, x must be divisible by 222.
The correct answer is E
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Most Upvoted Answer
If x represents the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that c...
Answer:

To find the sum of all the positive three-digit numbers that can be constructed using distinct nonzero digits a, b, and c exactly once, we can consider the possible values of each digit in the hundreds, tens, and units place.

Step 1: Determine the possible values for each digit:
Since the digits are distinct nonzero digits, we have the following possibilities:

Hundreds place: a, b, c (3 possibilities)
Tens place: a, b, c (3 possibilities)
Units place: a, b, c (3 possibilities)

Step 2: Calculate the sum of all possible three-digit numbers:
To find the sum, we need to consider all possible combinations of the digits in each place value.

For the hundreds place, the sum of all possible digits is (a + b + c).
For the tens place, the sum of all possible digits is (a + b + c).
For the units place, the sum of all possible digits is (a + b + c).

So, the sum of all possible three-digit numbers is (a + b + c) * 111.

Step 3: Determine the largest integer by which the sum must be divisible:
To find the largest integer by which the sum must be divisible, we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of (a + b + c) and 111.

The GCD of (a + b + c) and 111 will be the largest integer by which the sum must be divisible.

Step 4: Finding the GCD:
To find the GCD, we can use the Euclidean algorithm.

Let's assume a > b > c. Since the digits are distinct, the values of a, b, and c can be represented as a = 9, b = 8, and c = 7.

(a + b + c) = (9 + 8 + 7) = 24.

Now, we find the GCD of 24 and 111 using the Euclidean algorithm:

111 = 24 * 4 + 15
24 = 15 * 1 + 9
15 = 9 * 1 + 6
9 = 6 * 1 + 3
6 = 3 * 2 + 0

Since the remainder is 0, the GCD is 3.

Step 5: Final Answer:
Therefore, the largest integer by which the sum must be divisible is 3. However, the correct answer option given is 222, which seems to be incorrect based on the calculations provided.
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