🦘 Math Kangaroo Grade All Felix 1-2 Ecolier 3-4 Benjamin 5-6 Kadett 7-8 Junior 9-10 Student 11-12 ⇄ switch contest
2012 Math Kangaroo

Problem 7

Problem 7 · 2012 Math Kangaroo Medium
Number Theory digit-sum

The digit sum of a seven digit number is 6. What is the product of the digits?

Show answer
Answer: A — 0
Show hints
Hint 1 of 2
A seven-digit number has seven digits; their sum is only 6.
Still stuck? Show hint 2 →
Hint 2 of 2
Seven positive digits would already sum to at least 7, so some digit must be 0.
Show solution
Approach: show a zero digit is forced, killing the product
  1. If all seven digits were at least 1, their sum would be at least 7, but the sum is only 6.
  2. So at least one digit must be 0.
  3. Any product that includes a 0 is 0.
  4. The product of the digits is 0 (A).
Mark: · log in to save