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Algebra Level 4

Given a 4-digit no. , I reverse its digits to form another 4- digit no. ;then I compute the difference between the two numbers. What is the largest difference I can get?


The answer is 8802.

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4 solutions

Let the number be a b c d \overline{abcd} . Then on reversing the digits, we get, d c b a \overline{dcba} . Since both of them are four digit numbers, we must have 9 a , d 1 ; 9 b , c 0 9 \geq a,d \geq 1 ; 9 \geq b,c \geq 0 .

Now, a b c d d c b a = 1000 a + 100 b + 10 c + d ( 1000 d + 100 c + 10 b + a ) . \overline{abcd} - \overline{dcba} = 1000a + 100b + 10c + d - ( 1000d + 100c + 10b + a).

= 999 a + 90 b 90 c 999 d = 999a + 90b - 90c - 999d

To maximize this, we must maximize the positive terms and minimize the negative terms.

Therefore, a = b = 9 , c = 0 , d = 1 a = b = 9, c=0, d =1

and 9901 1099 = 8802 9901 - 1099 = \boxed{8802}

Hurray, it took a bit of thinking and a bit of doubt, but I got that going through the numbers. Since it was a level 4 I thought that there was some kind of ingenious trick.

Robert Fritz - 7 years, 3 months ago

That is exactly how i did as well

John Samuel - 7 years, 3 months ago

miscalculated the substraction:(

Kaustav Sengupta - 7 years, 3 months ago

The answer is incorrect.

Please riddle me out this - 9900 on reversing gives 0099 which on subtracting gives 9801 which is definitely more than 8802. What say?

Sayyam Jain - 7 years, 3 months ago

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0099 is equal to 99. It is not a four digit number.

Siddhartha Srivastava - 7 years, 3 months ago
Maharnab Mitra
Feb 28, 2014

Let the 4 digit number be ABCD. Reversing it, we get DCBA.

Last digit can't be zero as on reversing we get a 4 digit number again.

First, we maximize the first digit of the required number. So, A has to be 9 and D has to be 1.

image image

Then, we maximize the second digit of the required number. So, B has to be 9 and C has to be 0.

So, ABCD = 9901

Thus, the difference is 8802.

i get it now... ^^

Wan Ting L - 7 years, 3 months ago

Let us think of the 4 digit no. 9000. Reverse is 0009. The difference is 8991. now, 8991 > 8802.

A Former Brilliant Member - 7 years, 2 months ago

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0009 is equal to 9 which is an one digit number . but it is asked for 4 digit number. However i have done the same mistake first time.

Saurav Sah - 7 years, 2 months ago

Why does C have to be zero?

Shashank Rammoorthy - 6 years, 9 months ago
Milind Prabhu
Mar 30, 2014

Let a , b , c , d a,b,c,d be the digits of the 4 digit number of the form 1000 a + 100 b + 10 c + d 1000a+100b+10c+d

If the digits are reversed the number will be 1000 d + 100 c + 10 b + a 1000d+100c+10b+a

The difference of the two numbers is 999 a + 90 b 90 c 999 d 999a+90b-90c-999d =9{111(a-b) + 10(b-c))

So the difference of the two four digit numbers depends on ( a d ) (a-d) and ( b c ) (b-c) .

The digit d d cannot be 0 0 because that will make the first digit of the second number 0 0

So to get the largest difference the digits should be a = b = 9 a=b=9 , d = 1 d=1 , c = 0 c=0

When you substitute the values the difference will be 8802 8802

9990-0999=8991 which is greater than 8802

Achal Goyal - 6 years, 8 months ago

Finally I moved to Level 4 in Algebra by Solving this Problem. :) Solution: I tried larger num as number. So, Last number should not be 0. Because if it is, By reversing it becomes 3 digit. So, next possibility is 1. 3rd num can be 0. Then remaining 2 number I tried larger number i.e., 9. So, it is 9901. Reversing it, 1099. Diff 8802. Which is Max diff.

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