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2011 Math Kangaroo

Problem 12

Problem 12 · 2011 Math Kangaroo Medium
Number Theory careful-counting

All the four-digit numbers with the same digits as 2011 (i.e. 0, 1, 1, 2) are written in a row in ascending order. What is the difference between the two numbers that are next to 2011 in this list?

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Answer: B — 891
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Hint 1 of 2
List all four-digit numbers using the digits 0, 1, 1, 2 in increasing order.
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Hint 2 of 2
Find 2011 in the list and look at its immediate neighbours.
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Approach: order the arrangements and subtract the neighbours
  1. Using digits 0,1,1,2 (no leading zero), the ordered list is 1012, 1021, 1102, 1120, 1201, 1210, 2011, 2101, 2110.
  2. The numbers just before and after 2011 are 1210 and 2101.
  3. Their difference is 2101 − 1210 = 891.
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