5

I am not looking for an answer on this. Just need to clarify why my approach is failing -

$N_1 + N_2 + N_3$, i.e. single digit, double digit, 3 digit

single $= 2, 4, 6, 8$, i.e 4

double = X non-zero $= 8 \cdot 4 = 32$ X zero $= 9 \cdot 1 = 9$

Now the confusing part three digit, breaking into 4 cases

X zero zero $= 9$

X nz nz $= 7 \cdot 8 \cdot 4 = 224$

X z nz $= 8 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 = 32$

X nz z $= 8 \cdot 9 \cdot 1 = 72$

Three digit total comes to $= 9 + 224 + 32 + 72 = 337$. This answer is wrong and it should be $328$. What am I missing in the logic? Please suggest.

N. F. Taussig
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totalmoksh
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1 Answers1

3

(I was going to add this as a comment, but it turned out to be too long.)

Here are two alternate ways to handle the 3-digit case:

a) If the last digit is not zero, there are 4 choices for the last digit, 8 choices for the first digit, and 8 choices for the middle digit.

b) If the last digit is zero, there are 9 choices for the first digit and 8 choices for the middle digit.

This gives a total of $4\cdot8\cdot8+1\cdot9\cdot8=328$.

Alternatively,

1) If the first digit is even, there are 4 choices for this digit, 4 choices for the last digit, and 8 choices for the middle digit.

2) If the first digit is odd, there are 5 choices for this digit, 5 choices for the last digit, and 8 choices for the middle one.

This gives a total of $4\cdot4\cdot8+5\cdot5\cdot8=328.$

user84413
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