For a certain 3-digit number, interchanging the first and last digits gives a 3-digit number 297 less than the original number. Doubling the first and last digits of the original number gives a 3-digit number and increases the sum of the digits to 15. What is the number?
Let the number have the digits "htu" where
h = its hundreds digit
t = its tens digit
u = its units (ones) digit
The original number = 100h + 10t + u
>>...interchanging the first and last digits...<<
That gives 100u + 10t + h
>>...gives a 3-digit number 297 less than the original number...<<
That is 100h + 10t + u - 297, so we set them equal
100u + 10t + h = 100h + 10t + u - 297
277 = 99h - 99u
99h - 99u = 277
That equation can be divided through by 99
h - u = 3
>>...Doubling the first and last digits of the original number...<<
That gives a number with hundreds digit 2h, tens digit still t, and
units (ones) digit 2u
>>...gives a 3-digit number...<<
That tells us that 2h is NOT zero, but we knew that anyway.
>>...and increases the sum of the digits to 15...<<
So 2h + t + 2u = 15
So we have the equations:
h - u = 3
2h + t + 2u = 15
Solve the first equation for h
h = 3 + u
Substitute in the second equation:
2(3 + u) + t + 2u = 15
6 + 2u + t + 2u = 15
4u + t = 9
t = 9 - 4u
Since
0 < t < 9
0 < 9 - 4u < 9
-9 < -4u < 0
9 < 4u < 0
9/4 < u < 0
2.25 < u < 0
And since the units (ones) digit must be 1 or larger, because
>>...interchanging the first and last digits gives a 3-digit number...<<
so it cannot be 0, for if it were 0, that interchange would make a 0
for the first digit.
So u is either 1 or 2
If u = 1, then since h = 3 + u
h = 3 + 1 = 4
Substituting in
2h + t + 2u = 15
2(4) + t + 2(1) = 15
8 + t + 2 = 15
t + 10 = 15
t = 5
So in this case the number "htu" is 451
Checking:
interchanging the first and last digits gives 154
and that is a 3-digit number 297 less than the original number,
since 451 - 154 = 297
>>...Doubling the first and last digits of the original number gives a 3-digit number and increases the sum of the digits to 15...<<
Doubling the first and last digit of 451 gives 852, and the sum
of its digits is 8+5+2=15
So 451 is a solution.
Now we try
------
If u = 2, then since h = 3 + u
h = 3 + 2 = 5
Substituting in
2h + t + 2u = 15
2(5) + t + 2(2) = 15
10 + t + 4 = 15
t + 14 = 15
t = 1
So in this case the number "htu" is 512
Checking:
interchanging the first and last digits gives 215
and that is not a 3-digit number 297 less than the original number,
since 215 - 512 = -297
So we must discard this possibility. Also the last part
>>...Doubling the first and last digits of the original number gives a 3-digit number and increases the sum of the digits to 15...<<
You cannot double the first digit 5, for doubling 5 gives 10,
not a single digit.
So there is just one solution, 451.
Edwin