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Mission 55 (Posted on 2021-02-08) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Consider the number 12378945560
You are challenged to make this number divisible by 55 by replacing one or two of its digits by new ones in a way that the new number will be divisible by 55.
In how many ways can this task be performed?
List all the possible solutions.

No Solution Yet Submitted by Ady TZIDON    
Rating: 4.0000 (1 votes)

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Some Thoughts Simplest solutions (part 1) | Comment 1 of 6
To be divisible by 55, a number must be divisible by  both 5 and 11.  Divisibility by 5 is simple enough.  To be divisible by 11, A=sum of digits in odd numbered spaces, B=sum of digits in even spaces.  The difference |A-B| must be divisible by 11.

In the starting number A=1+3+8+4+5+0=21 and B=2+7+9+5+6=29.  So we have |A-B|=8. 

Case 1:
One number changed.
Either change A by +8 or -3, or change B by -8 or +3.  
Note we can't change the 0 and retain divisibility by 5.  
Note the digit 7 cannot be changed by -8 or +3.
Each of the other _9_ digits can be changed.  (1 to 9, 2 to 5 etc)

Case 2:
Two numbers changed including the last digit from 0 to 5.
Now A=26, B=29 so change A by +3 or -8 or B by -3 or +8.
This time it's the 2 that can't change. 
Each of the other _9_ digits can be changed.

So I'm up to 18 possibilities.

Case 3:
Two numbers changed, not including the last digit.
This is going to be complicated and I haven't worked it out yet.
Ignore the last digit, since it is zero and can't be changed and this case simplifies to "Change two digits of 1237894556 to make the number divisible by 11."
The two 5's make it a little tricky.  When I finish I will make a separate post.

  Posted by Jer on 2021-02-08 09:29:25
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