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QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Maths

Prelims 2026

There are four types of weights, namely 11 kg, 22 kg, 55 kg and 1010 kg. What is the maximum number of different ways one can measure 2020 kg, if at least eight but not more than eleven weights of 11 kg are to be used while measuring?

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Explanation

Answer: 8

Let a,b,c,da, b, c, d be the number of 1, 2, 5, 10 kg weights. We need a+2b+5c+10d=20,a{8,9,10,11}, b,c,d0.a + 2b + 5c + 10d = 20, \quad a \in \{8, 9, 10, 11\},\ b,c,d \ge 0.

Case a=8a = 8: 2b+5c+10d=122b + 5c + 10d = 12

  • d=0d=0: (b,c)=(6,0),(1,2)(b,c) = (6,0), (1,2) → 2 ways
  • d=1d=1: (b,c)=(1,0)(b,c) = (1,0) → 1 way

Subtotal: 3

Case a=9a = 9: 2b+5c+10d=112b + 5c + 10d = 11 (odd, so cc must be odd)

  • d=0d=0: (b,c)=(3,1)(b,c) = (3,1) → 1 way

Subtotal: 1

Case a=10a = 10: 2b+5c+10d=102b + 5c + 10d = 10

  • d=0d=0: (b,c)=(5,0),(0,2)(b,c) = (5,0), (0,2) → 2 ways
  • d=1d=1: (b,c)=(0,0)(b,c) = (0,0) → 1 way

Subtotal: 3

Case a=11a = 11: 2b+5c+10d=92b + 5c + 10d = 9 (cc odd)

  • d=0d=0: (b,c)=(2,1)(b,c) = (2,1) → 1 way

Subtotal: 1

Total: 3+1+3+1=83 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 8

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