Analyzing the Setup
The problem asks us to construct a 5-digit number using the set {0,1,2,3,4,5} such that the resulting number is divisible by 3.
The fundamental rule for divisibility by 3 states that a number is divisible by 3 if and only if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
The sum of all six available digits is:
Stotal=0+1+2+3+4+5=15
Since we are forming a 5-digit number, we must exclude exactly one digit d from the set. The sum of the remaining five digits will be S5=15−d. For S5 to be divisible by 3, d must be a multiple of 3.
Within our set, the digits that are multiples of 3 are 0 and 3. This leads us to two distinct, mutually exclusive cases.
Case 1
Excluding the Digit 0
If we exclude 0, our set of digits becomes {1,2,3,4,5}. The sum of these digits is 15, which is divisible by 3.
Because the digit 0 is not in this set, we do not need to worry about the leading digit constraint. We are arranging 5 distinct digits in 5 positions.
The number of ways to arrange these is given by
5!:
5!=5×4×3×2×1=120
Thus, there are 120 valid numbers in this case.
Case 2
Excluding the Digit 3
If we exclude 3, our set of digits becomes {0,1,2,4,5}. The sum of these digits is 12, which is divisible by 3.
However, we must account for the leading digit constraint: a 5-digit number cannot begin with 0.
For the first position (the ten-thousands place), we have 4 choices: {1,2,4,5}. Once the first digit is chosen, we have 4 digits remaining (including 0) to fill the remaining 4 positions.
The number of valid arrangements is:
4×4!=4×24=96
Thus, there are 96 valid numbers in this case.
The Grand Synthesis
Since the two cases are mutually exclusive, we find the total count by summing the results from Case 1 and Case 2.
Total valid numbers = 120+96=216.
By systematically applying the divisibility rule and carefully navigating the constraint of the leading zero, we conclude that the total number of such 5-digit numbers is 216.