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How to solve a hard CAT number system problem confidently and quickly 2

How to solve a hard CAT number system problem confidently and quickly 2

Solve number system puzzle problem 2 in 90 secs: What 2 digit number is less than sum of squares of its digits by 11 and exceeds their doubled product by 5?

Hard CAT Number System Problem 2

What two digit number is less than the sum of squares of its digits by 11 and exceeds their doubled product by 5?

Time to solve: 90 secs.

Hint: For quick solution, discover the breakthrough information from the given resources. It is problem solving by discovering key pattern.

Solution to Number system puzzle problem 2: Deriving key relations by discovering key patterns

By place value mechanism applied on the two given statements, where $x$ is the ten's digit and $y$ is the unit's digit of the number $N$,

$N=10x+y=x^2+y^2-11$ ....................(1)

$N=10x+y=2xy+5$ ............................(2)

Can we derive any special relation between the two digits from any of the equations independently?

We avoid the first equation with squares and no visible usable patterns.

But with specific intent when we examine equation 2, it is easy to discover the possibility of factorization of this second equation. The hint is taken from the common factor 2 in terms $2xy$ and $10x$,

$10x+y=2xy+5$,

Or, $y-5=2x(y-5)$,

Or, $(y-5)(2x-1)=0$.

This implies, either $(y-5)=0$ or $(2x-1)=0$.

If $(2x-1)=0$, $x=\frac{1}{2}$ that is an invalid value of ten's digit $x$. Then,

$(2x-1) \neq 0$.

So, $y-5=0$,

Or, $y=5$.

And this is an important and quick breakthrough.

Exhausting the exploitation of individual equations, in the next step, two equations are considered together to find a second useful pattern that we can reveal by a simple operation.

Again with specific intent, is easy to see that the fragment expressions $x^2+y^2$ in the first equation and $2xy$ in the second can give us the value of $(x-y)$.

Subtract equation 2 from equation 1,

$(x-y)^2=16$,

Or, $x-y=\pm 4$.

What can be the possible values of $x$ and $y$ with these two key information available?

The only two possibilities are,

$15$, and, $95$.

Note: First ten's digit value is fixed at $5$ then two ways of its differing from ten's digit by 4 gives the two values possible.

Let's verify.

Verification of the values against given conditions

For 15, and Equation 1: sum of squares of the digits is 26 that exceeds the number by 11. Equation satisfied.

For 15, and Equation 2: Twice the product of the digits is 10 that is less than the number by 5. Equation satisfied.

For 95, and Equation 1: Sum of squares of the digits is 106 that exceeds the number by 11. Equation satisfied.

For 95, and Equation 2: Twice the product of the digits is 90 that is less than the number by 5. Equation satisfied.

Answer: Two possible values of the number are 15 and 95.

Concepts and techniques used: Strategy of dealing with less complex individual equation first and the two equation together second to discover key patterns and derive key relations -- Key pattern discovery -- Key information derivation -- Enumeration based on constraints -- Systematic problem solving.

This is systematic, confident and quick problem solving using suitable concepts and techniques at each step, in short, systematic problem solving.

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