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PrintSelection tests for the Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2013
Saudi Arabia 2013 algebra
Problem
The base-7 representation of number is , and the base-9 representation of number is . What is the decimal (base-10) representation of ?
Solution
We have . This implies that . Because , either or and .
1. If , then and therefore , that is .
2. If and , then , or . If then and and . If , then , which is impossible.
Therefore, or .
1. If , then and therefore , that is .
2. If and , then , or . If then and and . If , then , which is impossible.
Therefore, or .
Final answer
0 or 248
Techniques
Simple EquationsTechniques: modulo, size analysis, order analysis, inequalities