×

# Inspired by Ajala Singh

In Can Someone Explain?, Ajala Singh asked if there was a reason why the following equation is true.

$123, 456, 789 \times 9 = 1, 111, 111, 111 .$

Given that the RHS has 10 1's, the Rule of divisibility of 9 tells us that the equation cannot be correct. I then tried to figure out what the actual equation should have been, and stumbled upon 2 interesting possibilities

1) $$123, 456, 789 \times 9 = 1, 111, 111, 101.$$

Furthermore, this generalizes to other bases. We have $\begin{array} {l r r } 12_3 & \times 2_3 = &101_3 \\ 123_4 & \times 3_4 = & 1101_4 \\ 1234_5 & \times 4_5 = & 11101_5 \\ \end{array}$

Can someone explain why?

2) $$12,3 45,6 79 \times 9 = 111, 111, 111.$$

Furthermore, this generalizes to other bases. We have $\begin{array} {l r r } 13_4 & \times 3_4 = & 111_4 \\ 124_5 & \times 4_5 = & 1111_5 \\ 1235_6 & \times 5_6 = & 11111_6 \\ \end{array}$

Can someone explain why?

Note by Calvin Lin
3 years ago

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold
- bulleted- list
• bulleted
• list
1. numbered2. list
1. numbered
2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in $$...$$ or $...$ to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 $$2 \times 3$$
2^{34} $$2^{34}$$
a_{i-1} $$a_{i-1}$$
\frac{2}{3} $$\frac{2}{3}$$
\sqrt{2} $$\sqrt{2}$$
\sum_{i=1}^3 $$\sum_{i=1}^3$$
\sin \theta $$\sin \theta$$
\boxed{123} $$\boxed{123}$$

Sort by:

1) Let the base be $$r$$. Write the multiplicand as an expansion in powers of $$r$$' s (i.e. $$(1234)_5=1.5^3+2.5^2+3.5+4$$) and the multiplier as $$r-1$$. Collect terms together.

2) Proceed by similar method.

- 3 years ago

1) $$\overline{123...(n-1)}_n \times \overline{n-1}_n$$

$$= \overline{123...(n-1)}_n \times n - \overline{123...(n-1)_n} \times 1$$

$$= \overline{123...(n-1)0}_n - \overline{123...(n-1)}_n$$

Note that the first number has one more digit than the second number.

$$2-1=1, 3-2=1, ... (n-2)-(n-3)=1$$

However, 0<(n-1). Thus, we move 1 from (n-1) to add n to 0. n-(n-1)=1 but (n-1-1)-(n-1)=0. In other words,

$$$$\frac{ \begin{array}[b]{r} \left( (n-1) 0 \right)\\ - \left( (n-2) (n-1) \right) \end{array} }{ \left( 01 \right) }$$$$

Thus we have 11...101.

2) Writing this again is too tiring, so i'll try to connect this to the 'lemma' above.

We divide 10 on both sides. We get $$\overline{123...(n-2).(n-1)}_n \times \overline{n-1}_n$$

=$$1...10.1$$ (there are (n-2) 1's in 1...1.)

Now, we add 0.1 to $$\overline{123...(n-2).(n-1)}_n$$.

$$\overline{123...(n-3)(n-2).(n-1)}_n + 0.1_n = \overline{123...(n-3)(n-1).}_n$$

We get $$\overline{123...(n-3)(n-1).}_n \times \overline{n-1}_n$$

$$= 1...10.1_n + [0.1_n \times (n-1)]$$

(and ooh I see light!)

$$= 1...10.1_n +0.(n-1)_n$$

$$= 1...11_n$$

Yes! Q.E.D.

- 3 years ago

I believe you are referring to

$\overline{123\dots(n-1)}_n$

(Toggle LaTeX!) And I think your solution is right. Would it work the same for n > 10?

- 3 years ago

Yes I was. Thanks!

It would still work for n>10 as the base will change and more numbers are allowed. You can read the wiki for info.

Anyway, thanks!

- 3 years ago

The given equation is incorrect because 123456789*9=1111111101 not 1111111111.

- 3 years ago

Yes, the first given equation is incorrect, and I explained why.

I mentioned that even though this equation is incorrect, it led me on to discover 2 other interesting patterns, as described later in the note. Both Abhishek and Aloysius have provided great explanations above, and I encourage you to read them.

Staff - 3 years ago

((1b^(b-1))+ (2b^(b-2)) +…+ (b-1) (b^0)) (b-1)

= (1b^b) + (2b^(b-1))+ (3b^(b-2)) +…+ (b-1) (b^1) + 0b^0) - (1b^(b-1))+ (2b^(b-2)) +…+ (b-2) (b^1) + (b-1) (b^0)

= (1b^b+1b^(b-1)+1b^(b-2)+…+ 0(b^1) + (1b^0)

(n-1) in base n is (10-1)base n

- 3 years ago