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If x = 111­ - - - - 1 (20 digits), y = 333 - - - - 3 (10 digits) and z = 222 - - - - 2 (10 digits), then what is (x – y 2)/z equal to?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2017 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (05-Feb-2017)
The correct answer is

1

Solving the Repeating Digit Number Problem

This problem asks us to evaluate an expression involving numbers with repeating digits. The key is to find a way to represent these numbers algebraically so that we can perform calculations easily. We are given three numbers, x, y, and z, defined by sequences of repeating digits:

  • x consists of 20 digits of '1'.
  • y consists of 10 digits of '3'.
  • z consists of 10 digits of '2'.

We need to calculate the value of the expression (x–y2)/z(x – y^2)/z.

Representing Repeating Digit Numbers

A number consisting of nn digits of '1' can be written as the sum of powers of 10: 10n–1+10n–2+...+101+10010^{n–1} + 10^{n–2} + ... + 10^1 + 10^0. This is a geometric series. The sum of this series is 10n–110–1=10n–19\frac{10^n - 1}{10-1} = \frac{10^n - 1}{9}.

A number consisting of nn digits of 'k' is simply kk times a number consisting of nn digits of '1'. So, it can be represented as k×10n–19k \times \frac{10^n - 1}{9}.

Expressing x, y, and z Algebraically

  • x = 111...1 (20 digits): Using the formula, x=1020–19x = \frac{10^{20} - 1}{9}.
  • y = 333...3 (10 digits): Using the formula with k=3 and n=10, y=3×1010–19=1010–13y = 3 \times \frac{10^{10} - 1}{9} = \frac{10^{10} - 1}{3}.
  • z = 222...2 (10 digits): Using the formula with k=2 and n=10, z=2×1010–19z = 2 \times \frac{10^{10} - 1}{9}.

Calculating the Expression (x – y2)/z

First, let's calculate the numerator: x–y2x – y^2.

Substitute the expressions for x and y:

x–y2=1020–19–(1010–13)2x – y^2 = \frac{10^{20} - 1}{9} – \left(\frac{10^{10} - 1}{3}\right)^2

x–y2=1020–19–(1010–1)232x – y^2 = \frac{10^{20} - 1}{9} – \frac{(10^{10} - 1)^2}{3^2}

x–y2=1020–19–(1010–1)29x – y^2 = \frac{10^{20} - 1}{9} – \frac{(10^{10} - 1)^2}{9}

Combine the terms over a common denominator:

x–y2=(1020–1)–(1010–1)29x – y^2 = \frac{(10^{20} - 1) – (10^{10} - 1)^2}{9}

Expand the term (1010–1)2(10^{10} - 1)^2 using the identity (a–b)2=a2–2ab+b2(a-b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2:

(1010–1)2=(1010)2–2×1010×1+12=1020–2×1010+1(10^{10} - 1)^2 = (10^{10})^2 - 2 \times 10^{10} \times 1 + 1^2 = 10^{20} - 2 \times 10^{10} + 1

Substitute this back into the numerator expression:

x–y2=(1020–1)–(1020–2×1010+1)9x – y^2 = \frac{(10^{20} - 1) – (10^{20} - 2 \times 10^{10} + 1)}{9}

Remove the parentheses in the numerator (remembering to change the signs):

x–y2=1020–1–1020+2×1010–19x – y^2 = \frac{10^{20} - 1 – 10^{20} + 2 \times 10^{10} – 1}{9}

Combine like terms:

x–y2=(1020–1020)+2×1010+(–1–1)9x – y^2 = \frac{(10^{20} - 10^{20}) + 2 \times 10^{10} + (–1 – 1)}{9}

x–y2=0+2×1010–29=2×1010–29=2(1010–1)9x – y^2 = \frac{0 + 2 \times 10^{10} – 2}{9} = \frac{2 \times 10^{10} – 2}{9} = \frac{2(10^{10} – 1)}{9}

Now, let's calculate the full expression (x–y2)/z(x – y^2)/z. Substitute the calculated value of the numerator and the expression for z:

x–y2z=2(1010–1)92×1010–19\frac{x – y^2}{z} = \frac{\frac{2(10^{10} - 1)}{9}}{2 \times \frac{10^{10} - 1}{9}}

To divide by a fraction, we multiply by its reciprocal:

x–y2z=2(1010–1)9×92(1010–1)\frac{x – y^2}{z} = \frac{2(10^{10} - 1)}{9} \times \frac{9}{2(10^{10} - 1)}

Assuming 1010–1≠010^{10} - 1 \neq 0 (which is true), we can cancel out the common terms in the numerator and denominator:

x–y2z=1\frac{x – y^2}{z} = 1

Thus, the value of (x–y2)/z(x – y^2)/z is 1.

Summary of Calculation Steps

  1. Express x, y, and z using the formula for repeating digits: k×10n–19k \times \frac{10^n - 1}{9}.
  2. Substitute these expressions into (x–y2)/z(x – y^2)/z.
  3. Simplify the numerator x–y2x – y^2 by expanding y2y^2 and combining terms.
  4. Divide the simplified numerator by the expression for z.
  5. Cancel common factors to get the final result.
Number Digits Algebraic Expression
x 20 digits of 1 1020–19\frac{10^{20} - 1}{9}
y 10 digits of 3 1010–13\frac{10^{10} - 1}{3}
z 10 digits of 2 2(1010–1)9\frac{2(10^{10} - 1)}{9}
Numerator (x – y2) Calculated 2(1010–1)9\frac{2(10^{10} - 1)}{9}
Expression Value ((x – y2)/z) Calculated 1

Revision Table: Repeating Digit Number Calculation

Reviewing the key components of the problem and solution helps reinforce the concepts.

Concept Description Formula Used
Repeating Digit Number A number formed by repeating a single digit multiple times. Number with n digits of k = k×10n–19k \times \frac{10^n - 1}{9}
Algebraic Manipulation Using algebraic identities and fraction rules to simplify expressions. (a–b)2=a2–2ab+b2(a-b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2, Fraction division
Problem Expression The target expression to evaluate. (x–y2)/z(x – y^2)/z

Additional Information on Number Patterns

Problems involving repeating digits are common in competitive exams and number theory. Understanding how to represent these numbers in a compact form using powers of 10 is a valuable skill. Here are some related points:

  • Numbers like 1, 11, 111, etc., form a sequence where the n-th term is 10n–19\frac{10^n - 1}{9}. These are sometimes called Repunits (for digit 1).
  • Numbers like 33, 333, etc., can be seen as 3 times the corresponding repunit. Similarly, 22, 222, etc., are 2 times the repunit.
  • This algebraic representation simplifies operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of such large repeating digit numbers.
  • Recognizing that 1020–110^{20} - 1 can be related to 1010–110^{10} - 1 using the difference of squares or by recognizing the structure 1020–1=(1010)2–12=(1010–1)(1010+1)10^{20} - 1 = (10^{10})^2 - 1^2 = (10^{10} - 1)(10^{10} + 1) is also helpful in simplifying such problems, although the direct expansion of (1010–1)2(10^{10} - 1)^2 worked directly here.
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