Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 4691100843
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Products involving 9999 suggest a classic shortcut: 9999 = 10000 − 1. This allows a quick calculation using place-value shifting and a single subtraction instead of full long multiplication.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Rewrite a * 9999 as a * 10000 − a. Multiplication by 10000 shifts the number four places to the left (because 10000 = 10^4). Then subtract the original number once. This avoids cumbersome partial products and reduces error probability.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Compute a * 10000 = 469157 * 10000 = 4,691,570,000.Subtract a: 4,691,570,000 − 469,157 = 4,691,100,843.Match with options: 4,691,100,843 corresponds to 4691100843.
Verification / Alternative check:
Reverse check by adding back: 4,691,100,843 + 469,157 = 4,691,570,000, which equals 469157 * 10000. Therefore the transformation using 10000 − 1 is validated.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Values close in magnitude but with swapped inner digits indicate common subtraction misalignments.Any option not ending with 0843 is suspect because subtracting 469,157 from an exact hundred-million multiple naturally yields the final four digits 0843.
Common Pitfalls:
Misaligning place values during subtraction; forgetting that multiplying by 10000 appends four zeros; performing a − b as b − a by mistake.
Final Answer:
4691100843
Discussion & Comments