Analyzing the Setup
Welcome, my dear student. Today, we are not just solving a math problem; we are embarking on a journey to organize chaos. When you look at a problem asking for the number of integers divisible by 3 or 11 within a specific range, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
But let us pause and breathe. Mathematics is the art of breaking down complexity into elegant, manageable pieces.
Let us define our playground. We are looking for four-digit numbers. The smallest four-digit number is 1000. The problem gives us a strict upper bound: the numbers must be less than or equal to 2800.
So, our effective range is the closed interval [1000,2800]. This is our universe. Every number we consider must live within these walls.
The Logic of Inclusion-Exclusion
Now, we need numbers divisible by 3 OR 11. In the language of set theory, this 'OR' is a union. Let A be the set of numbers divisible by 3, and B be the set of numbers divisible by 11.
We want to find the size of A∪B. If we just add the number of multiples of 3 and the number of multiples of 11, we commit a classic error: double-counting.
Any number divisible by both 3 and 11—which means it is divisible by 33—is counted in set A and again in set B. To fix this, we use the Principle of Inclusion-Exclusion:
This formula is our compass.
The Engine
Arithmetic Progressions
To find the number of elements in each set, we treat them as Arithmetic Progressions (AP). For any set of multiples of k in a range [a,l], the number of terms is given by:
Here, d is the common difference, which is simply k.
Let us find n(A), the multiples of 3. The first multiple of 3 after 1000 is 1002. The largest multiple of 3 before or at 2800 is 2799.
Using our formula:
n(3)=32799−1002+1=31797+1=599+1=600
There are 600 such numbers.
Now, for n(B), the multiples of 11. The first multiple of 11 after 1000 is 1001. The largest multiple of 11 before or at 2800 is 2794.
Applying the formula:
n(11)=112794−1001+1=111793+1=163+1=164
We have 164 multiples of 11.
The Overlap
The Final Piece
Finally, we must calculate the intersection A∩B, which are the multiples of 33. The first multiple of 33 after 1000 is 1023. The largest multiple of 33 before or at 2800 is 2772.
Our calculation:
n(33)=332772−1023+1=331749+1=53+1=54
We have 54 numbers that were counted twice.
The Grand Finale
We have all our components. We take the count of A, add the count of B, and subtract the overlap:
There you have it! Through logical deduction and the power of arithmetic progressions, we have arrived at the answer: 710.
Never fear the complexity of a problem; simply peel back the layers, one by one, and the solution will reveal itself.