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2015/16 AHSMC Part 1 Problem 14

Problem 14 of 16

A 10001000 digit number has the property that every two consecutive digits form a number that is a product of four prime numbers. The digit in the 500500th position is

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Solution

The numbers of two digits which are written as a product of four prime numbers are the following: 2⋅2⋅2⋅2=16,2⋅2⋅2⋅3=24,2⋅2⋅2⋅5=40,2⋅2⋅2⋅7=56,2⋅2⋅2⋅11=88,2⋅2⋅3⋅3=36,2⋅2⋅3⋅5=60,2⋅2⋅3⋅7=84,2⋅3⋅3⋅3=54,2⋅3⋅3⋅5=90,3⋅3⋅3⋅3=81.\begin{align*} 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 2 &= 16, & 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 3 &= 24, & 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 5 &= 40,\\ 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 7 &= 56, & 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 11 &= 88, & 2\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot 3 &= 36,\\ 2\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot 5 &= 60, & 2\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot 7 &= 84, & 2\cdot 3\cdot 3\cdot 3 &= 54,\\ 2\cdot 3\cdot 3\cdot 5 &= 90, & 3\cdot 3\cdot 3\cdot 3 &= 81. \end{align*} We conclude that the number that satisfies the conditions in the problem should have all its digits equal to 88. The answer is (E).