How many integers between 100 and 300 begin with 2 or end with 2?

2011

How many integers between 100 and 300 begin with 2 or end with 2?

Answer: B. 110ConceptFor two sets A and B, the inclusion–exclusion principle gives |A ∪ B| = |A| + |B| − |A ∩ B|. The overlap must be subtracted once because it is included…

  1. A.

    100

  2. B.

    110

  3. C.

    120

  4. D.

    180

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Concept

For two sets A and B, the inclusion–exclusion principle gives |A ∪ B| = |A| + |B| − |A ∩ B|.

The overlap must be subtracted once because it is included in both individual counts.

Application

  1. Let A be the integers from 100 to 300 that begin with 2. These are 200 through 299, so |A| = 100.

  2. Let B be the integers from 100 to 300 that end with 2. These are 102, 112, …, 292, so |B| = 20.

  3. The overlap A ∩ B consists of 202, 212, …, 292, so |A ∩ B| = 10.

  4. Therefore, |A ∪ B| = 100 + 20 − 10 = 110.

Cross-check

  • The 100 integers from 200 through 299 already include the 10 integers in that block that end with 2.

  • Outside that block, exactly 10 integers end with 2: 102 through 192. Thus 100 + 10 = 110.

Hence, the required number of integers is 110.

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