All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Three-digit numbers are formed from the digits 1, 2 and 3 in such a way that the digits are not repeated. What is the sum of such three-digit numbers?

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2017 GAT Previous Year Paper (23-Apr-2017)
The correct answer is

1332

Calculating the Sum of Three-Digit Numbers Without Repetition

The question asks for the sum of all possible three-digit numbers that can be formed using the digits 1, 2, and 3, with the condition that the digits are not repeated in any number. Let's break down how to solve this problem.

Identifying the Three-Digit Numbers

We need to form three-digit numbers using the digits 1, 2, and 3 exactly once in each number. This is a permutation problem, as the order of the digits matters. The number of possible three-digit numbers is the number of permutations of 3 distinct items taken 3 at a time, which is \(P(3,3) = 3! = 3 \times 2 \times 1 = 6\).

The possible three-digit numbers are:

  • 123
  • 132
  • 213
  • 231
  • 312
  • 321

Calculating the Sum

We can find the sum by adding these six numbers directly:

\(123 + 132 + 213 + 231 + 312 + 321\)

Let's add them:

\(123 + 132 = 255\)

\(213 + 231 = 444\)

\(312 + 321 = 633\)

Total sum = \(255 + 444 + 633 = 699 + 633 = 1332\).

Alternative Method: Using Place Value

A more systematic way, especially useful with more digits, is to consider the contribution of each digit in each place value (hundreds, tens, units).

The digits available are 1, 2, and 3. The sum of these digits is \(1 + 2 + 3 = 6\).

Consider the hundreds place:

  • How many numbers have 1 in the hundreds place? The remaining two digits (2 and 3) can be arranged in \(2! = 2\) ways in the tens and units places (123, 132).
  • How many numbers have 2 in the hundreds place? Similarly, the remaining two digits (1 and 3) can be arranged in \(2! = 2\) ways (213, 231).
  • How many numbers have 3 in the hundreds place? The remaining two digits (1 and 2) can be arranged in \(2! = 2\) ways (312, 321).

So, each digit (1, 2, and 3) appears in the hundreds place \( (3-1)! = 2 \) times.

The total value contributed by the hundreds place is the sum of the digits multiplied by the number of times each digit appears in the hundreds place, times 100:

\((1+2+3) \times 2 \times 100 = 6 \times 2 \times 100 = 12 \times 100 = 1200\)

Consider the tens place:

Similarly, each digit (1, 2, and 3) appears in the tens place \( (3-1)! = 2 \) times.

The total value contributed by the tens place is the sum of the digits multiplied by the number of times each digit appears in the tens place, times 10:

\((1+2+3) \times 2 \times 10 = 6 \times 2 \times 10 = 12 \times 10 = 120\)

Consider the units place:

Each digit (1, 2, and 3) appears in the units place \( (3-1)! = 2 \) times.

The total value contributed by the units place is the sum of the digits multiplied by the number of times each digit appears in the units place, times 1:

\((1+2+3) \times 2 \times 1 = 6 \times 2 \times 1 = 12 \times 1 = 12\)

The total sum of all the numbers is the sum of the contributions from each place value:

Total Sum = Hundreds Place Contribution + Tens Place Contribution + Units Place Contribution

Total Sum = \(1200 + 120 + 12 = 1332\)

This method gives the same result and is a good way to verify the calculation or handle problems with more digits.

Place Value Digits (1, 2, 3) Sum of Digits Number of times each digit appears in this place Contribution to Total Sum
Hundreds (100) 1, 2, 3 \(1+2+3 = 6\) \(2! = 2\) \(6 \times 2 \times 100 = 1200\)
Tens (10) 1, 2, 3 \(1+2+3 = 6\) \(2! = 2\) \(6 \times 2 \times 10 = 120\)
Units (1) 1, 2, 3 \(1+2+3 = 6\) \(2! = 2\) \(6 \times 2 \times 1 = 12\)

Total Sum = \(1200 + 120 + 12 = 1332\).

Conclusion

The sum of all three-digit numbers formed using the digits 1, 2, and 3 without repetition is 1332.

Revision Table: Sum of Three-Digit Numbers

Concept Description Application in Problem
Permutation Arrangement of objects where order matters. \(P(n, r) = n! / (n-r)!\) Forming unique 3-digit numbers from 3 digits: \(3! = 6\) numbers.
Place Value The value represented by a digit based on its position in a number (Units, Tens, Hundreds, etc.) Used to calculate the contribution of digits based on their position in the formed numbers.
Sum of Digits Adding the individual digits used. Sum of digits 1, 2, 3 is \(1+2+3=6\).

Additional Information: Sum of Permuted Numbers

For a set of \(n\) distinct non-zero digits, the sum of all \(n\)-digit numbers formed without repetition can be calculated using a general formula.

Let the digits be \(d_1, d_2, \dots, d_n\).

The number of \(n\)-digit numbers formed using these digits without repetition is \(n!\).

Each digit appears in each place value \((n-1)!\) times.

The sum of the digits is \(S = d_1 + d_2 + \dots + d_n\).

The sum of all such \(n\)-digit numbers is \(S \times (n-1)! \times (111\dots1)_{n \text{ times}}\).

In our case, digits are 1, 2, 3, so \(n=3\). Sum of digits \(S = 1+2+3=6\).

Number of permutations is \(3! = 6\).

Each digit appears in each place \((3-1)! = 2!\) = 2 times.

The "repetitive 1s" factor for a 3-digit number is 111.

Sum = \(6 \times 2 \times 111 = 12 \times 111 = 1332\).

This formula confirms the result obtained through the place value method.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. What is the number of 6-digit numbers that can be formed only by using 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (each once); and divisible by 6 ? 

  2. Consider the following statements for a fixed natural number n:

    1. C(n, r) is greatest if n = 2r

    2. C(n, r) is greatest if n = 2r - 1 and n = 2r + 1 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  3. How many permutations are there of the letters of the word 'TIGER' in which the vowels should not occupy the even positions ?

  4. What is the maximum value of n such that 5 ndivides (30! + 35!), where n is a natural number?

  5. In how many ways can a team of 5 players be selected out of 9 players so as to exclude two particular players ?

  6. Let x be the number of integers lying between 2999 and 8001 which have at least two digits equal. Then x is equal to

  7. There are 17 cricket players, out of which 5 players can bowl. In how many ways can a team of 11 players be selected so to include 3 bowlers?

  8. The total number of 5 - digit numbers that can be composed of distinct digits from 0 to 9 is

  9. What is the sum of all three-digit numbers that can be formed using all the digits 3,4 and 5 where repetition of digits is not allowed?

  10. How many different permutations can be made out of the letters of the word ‘PERMUTATION’?


Important Questions from Permutations and Combinations

  1. What is the number of ways that $5$ boys and $5$ girls can be seated in a row so that boys and girls sit alternately?

  2. The number of ways of choosing 21 objects out of 42 objects of which 21 are identical and the remaining 21 are distinct, is:

  3. If nPr = 720 and nCr = 120, then the value of r is:

  4. For a social work, 7 men and 6 women gave their nominations. The committee is formed to select 5 people from the nominated persons in such a way that atleast 3 men are there in the final team. Find the number of ways in which the people can be selected.

  5. The largest coefficient of ( x + 1)20 is:

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
NDA
September 13, 2026
CDS
September 13, 2026
Test Series
NDA img
Defence
NDA 2026 Mock Test Series (Latest Pattern)
501 Tests 1 Tests Free
659 Attempts
4.6(121)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App