How many times does 5 appear in all two-digit positive integers?

Answer: (b) 19

5 is the tens digit in 50–59 (10 times) and the units digit in 15, 25, …, 95 (9 times). Counting appearances, 55 contributes two, and the total is 19.

1. Tens place: 50, 51, …, 59 → 10 appearances.
2. Units place: 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95 → 9 appearances.
3. Total = 10 + 9 = 19.

Remember · Count digit appearances place by place (tens, then units); a number like 55 is counted once in each place.

Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper II (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error