IKMC Benjamin Past Paper 2016 Q15

[IbrahimAhmad2004]

The number 2581953764 is written on a strip of paper. John cuts the strip 2 times and gets 3 numbers. Then he adds these 3 numbers. Which is the smallest possible sum he can get?
A 2675
B 2975
C 2978
D 4217
E 4298

[Guest]

to get the smallest numbers, we will try to make cuts just before digits with small values. Now, 2 will inevitably be part of the first number, so let's ignore it. We also need to make sure that the number of digits in each newly created number remains small. So the new three numbers will have 3,4 and 3 digits in them. Now, the smallest four-digit number we can create is 1953 because making the cut anywhere else will result in a number whose starting digit is greater than 1 and so the number will be greater than 1999.

in order for one of the numbers to be 1963, the cuts will have to be made between 8 and 1, and between3 and 7 in the large number. So, the three numbers will be 258, 1953 and 764.

so their sum is 2975 and that's the answer. Option B