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18 votes
18 votes
Given that 133 base n = 43base 10, find the value of n​

User Shijin
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1 Answer

25 votes
25 votes

Answer:

n = 5

Explanation:

Any 3-digit number to the base n will have its rightmost digit have a place value of n⁰, its next rightmost digit a place value of n¹ and the leftmost digit will have a place value of n²

This means 133can be represented as follows
n² n¹ n⁰

1 3 3

The actual value in terms of a base of 10

= 3 x n⁰ + 3 x n¹ + 1 x n²

= 3 x 1 + 3 x n + 1 x n² (n⁰ = 1 and n¹ = n)

= 3 + 3n + 1n²

Since we are given the information that 133ₙ = 43₁₀
3 + 3n + 1n² = 43

subtract 3 from both sides
3n + 1n² = 40

Rewrite as

n² + 3n = 40

Factoring n on the left side=>
n(n + 3) = 40

If we look at the factors of 40:
1 x 40

2 x 20

4 x 10

5 x 8

5 and 8 satisfy the condition n(n + 3) = 40

So n = 5

User Aranganathan
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