Step 1: Understand the set \( S \)
- \( S \) is the set of all seven-digit numbers formed using the digits 0, 1, and 2.
- A seven-digit number has the form \( d_1 d_2 d_3 d_4 d_5 d_6 d_7 \), where each \( d_i \in \{0, 1, 2\} \).
- Since it’s a seven-digit number, the first digit \( d_1 \) cannot be 0 (otherwise, it wouldn’t be a seven-digit number; e.g., 0210222 would be interpreted as 210222, a six-digit number).
- Thus:
\qquad - \( d_1 \in \{1, 2\} \) (2 choices),
\qquad - \( d_2, d_3, \ldots, d_7 \in \{0, 1, 2\} \) (3 choices each).
- Total number of seven-digit numbers in \( S \):
\[
2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 = 2 \times 3^6.
\]
- Compute \( 3^6 = 729 \), so:
\[
2 \times 729 = 1458.
\]
- Therefore, \( |S| = 1458 \).
The example confirms this:
- 2210222 is a seven-digit number with digits from \{0, 1, 2\}, so it’s in \( S \).
- 0210222 is not a seven-digit number (it’s 210222, a six-digit number), so it’s not in \( S \).
Step 2: Define the condition
- We need to find the number of elements \( x \in S \) such that the number of digits 0 and the number of digits 1 in \( x \) are equal.
- Let:
\qquad - Number of 0s in \( x = k \),
\qquad - Number of 1s in \( x = k \),
\qquad - Number of 2s in \( x = 7 - (k + k) = 7 - 2k \).
- Since the total number of digits is 7, and the number of 2s must be non-negative:
\[
7 - 2k \geq 0 \implies 2k \leq 7 \implies k \leq 3.5 \implies k \leq 3 \text{ (since } k \text{ is an integer)}.
\]
- Also, \( k \geq 0 \). So, \( k \) can be 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Step 3: Count the numbers for each \( k \)
For each value of \( k \), compute the number of valid seven-digit numbers, considering the restriction on the first digit.
Case 1: \( k = 0 \)
- 0s: 0, 1s: 0, 2s: \( 7 - 2 \times 0 = 7 \).
- All digits are 2: the number is 2222222.
- First digit is 2, which is fine.
- Number of such numbers: 1.
Case 2: \( k = 1 \)
- 0s: 1, 1s: 1, 2s: \( 7 - 2 \times 1 = 5 \).
- Total digits: 7.
- Choose 1 position out of 7 for the 0: \( \binom{7}{1} = 7 \).
- From the remaining 6 positions, choose 1 for the 1: \( \binom{6}{1} = 6 \).
- The remaining 5 positions are 2s.
- Total ways (without considering the first digit): \( 7 \times 6 = 42 \).
- Now, exclude numbers where the first digit is 0:
\qquad - First digit is 0: Fix position 1 as 0 (1 way).
\qquad - Choose 1 position out of the remaining 6 for the 1: \( \binom{6}{1} = 6 \).
\qquad - Remaining 5 positions are 2s.
\qquad - Number of invalid cases: 6.
- Valid cases: \( 42 - 6 = 36 \).
Case 3: \( k = 2 \)
- 0s: 2, 1s: 2, 2s: \( 7 - 2 \times 2 = 3 \).
- Choose 2 positions out of 7 for the 0s: \( \binom{7}{2} = \frac{7 \times 6}{2} = 21 \).
- From the remaining 5 positions, choose 2 for the 1s: \( \binom{5}{2} = \frac{5 \times 4}{2} = 10 \).
- Remaining 3 positions are 2s.
- Total ways: \( 21 \times 10 = 210 \).
- Exclude cases where the first digit is 0:
\qquad - First digit is 0: Fix position 1 as 0.
\qquad - Choose 1 more position out of positions 2 to 7 for the other 0: \( \binom{6}{1} = 6 \).
\qquad - From the remaining 5 positions, choose 2 for the 1s: \( \binom{5}{2} = 10 \).
\qquad - Remaining 3 positions are 2s.
\qquad - Invalid cases: \( 6 \times 10 = 60 \).
- Valid cases: \( 210 - 60 = 150 \).
Case 4: \( k = 3 \)
- 0s: 3, 1s: 3, 2s: \( 7 - 2 \times 3 = 1 \).
- Choose 3 positions out of 7 for the 0s: \( \binom{7}{3} = \frac{7 \times 6 \times 5}{3 \times 2 \times 1} = 35 \).
- From the remaining 4 positions, choose 3 for the 1s: \( \binom{4}{3} = 4 \).
- Remaining 1 position is a 2.
- Total ways: \( 35 \times 4 = 140 \).
- Exclude cases where the first digit is 0:
\qquad - First digit is 0: Fix position 1 as 0.
\qquad - Choose 2 more positions out of positions 2 to 7 for the other 0s: \( \binom{6}{2} = 15 \).
\qquad - From the remaining 4 positions, choose 3 for the 1s: \( \binom{4}{3} = 4 \).
\qquad - Remaining position is a 2.
\qquad - Invalid cases: \( 15 \times 4 = 60 \).
- Valid cases: \( 140 - 60 = 80 \).
Step 5: Sum the valid cases
- \( k = 0 \): 1,
- \( k = 1 \): 36,
- \( k = 2 \): 150,
- \( k = 3 \): 80.
- Total:
\[
1 + 36 + 150 + 80 = 267.
\]
Final Answer:
The number of elements \( x \in S \) where the number of 0s equals the number of 1s is \( \boxed{267} \).