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2024 AMC 10A Problem 15

Problem 15 of 25IntermediateAlgebraNumber TheoryProblem-Solving Techniques

Let MM be the greatest integer such that both M+1213M + 1213 and M+3773M + 3773 are perfect squares. What is the units digit of M?M?

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Solution

Set M+1213=y2M + 1213 = y^2 and M+3773=x2.M + 3773 = x^2. Subtracting, x2−y2=2560,x^2 - y^2 = 2560, so (x−y)(x+y)=2560.(x - y)(x + y) = 2560. The two factors share a parity, and their product is even, so both are even: write x−y=2s,x - y = 2s, x+y=2t,x + y = 2t, with st=640.st = 640. To make MM as large as possible we want y=t−sy = t - s as large as possible, so ss as small as possible. Take s=1,t=640,s = 1, t = 640, giving y=639.y = 639. Then M=6392−1213=407108,M = 639^2 - 1213 = 407108, whose units digit is 8.8. Thus, E is the correct answer.
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Tagged: perfect square · difference of squares · parity · optimization

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