Question:medium

The sum of all the digits of the number $(10^{50} + 10^{25} - 123)$, is

Show Hint

When dealing with expressions like $10^n + 10^m - k$, avoid direct expansion. Instead:
Treat powers of 10 as place-value blocks (leading 1 followed by zeros).
Rewrite as $10^n + (10^m - k)$ and analyze the smaller block $10^m - k$.
Use patterns like $10^n - 1 = \underbrace{99\ldots9}_{n\text{ times}}$ and adjust for the subtraction. This makes digit-sum problems much faster and cleaner.
Updated On: Jul 4, 2026
  • \(21\)
  • \(221\)
  • \(324\)
  • \(255\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Approach: Replace the scary $10^{50}+10^{25}$ with a small twin that behaves identically, find a digit-sum pattern, then scale up. Use $10^{6}+10^{3}-123$ as a model (same "$1$, gap of zeros, $1$, gap of zeros" shape).

Step 1: Small model. $10^{6}+10^{3} = 1001000.$ Subtract $123$: $1001000-123 = 1000877.$ Digit sum $= 1+0+0+0+8+7+7 = 23.$
Here the block of zeros between the two $1$s had length $2$, and below the lower $1$ there were $3$ zeros that turned into $877$ plus $0$ nines.

Step 2: See the structure. In general $10^{a}+10^{b}-123$ (with $a>b\ge 3$) becomes: a leading $1$, then $(a-b-1)$ zeros, then a $0$, then $(b-3)$ nines, then $877$.

Step 3: Apply with $a=50,\,b=25$.
Nines: $b-3 = 22$, contributing $22\times 9 = 198.$
Leading $1$ contributes $1.$
Tail $877$ contributes $8+7+7 = 22.$
All the in-between zeros contribute $0.$
Total $= 1+198+22 = \mathbf{221}.$ (Sanity check: the model gave $1+0+22 = 23$, matching $1000877$.)

\[ \text{Digit sum} = 221 \]
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