(Medium) Let a, b and c be nonzero integers, with 1 as their only positive common divisor, such that 1a+1b+1c=0\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{c} = 0a1+b1+c1=0. Find the number of such triples (a,b,c)(a, b, c)(a,b,c) with 50≥∣a∣≥∣b∣≥∣c∣≥150 \geq \mid a \mid \geq \mid b \mid \geq \mid c \mid \geq 150≥∣a∣≥∣b∣≥∣c∣≥1
Note by Cai Junxiang 1 year, 1 month ago
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The answer to your question is 66 I found it by a python program do you want to see it?
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The answer should be an even number because if (a,b,c) is a solution, so is (-a,-b,-c) i.e. solutions come in twos. Brute force with a computer program identified these 22 solutions: -45,-36,20 -42,-7,6 -40,-24,15 -35,-14,10 -30,-6,5 -28,-21,12 -20,-5,4 -15,-10,6 -12,-4,3 -6,-3,2 -2,-2,1 2,2,-1 6,3,-2 12,4,-3 15,10,-6 20,5,-4 28,21,-12 30,6,-5 35,14,-10 40,24,-15 42,7,-6 45,36,-20 All have the pattern that a and b have the same sign and c has the opposite sign. The most common solution has the pattern (n(n+1),n+1,-n) - or the same pattern with the signs switched. There are other solutions though. I'm not sure if there is a more elegant way to solve this than brute force.
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Easy Math Editor
This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.
When posting on Brilliant:
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2^{34}
a_{i-1}
\frac{2}{3}
\sqrt{2}
\sum_{i=1}^3
\sin \theta
\boxed{123}
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The answer to your question is 66 I found it by a python program do you want to see it?
Log in to reply
Sure
The answer should be an even number because if (a,b,c) is a solution, so is (-a,-b,-c) i.e. solutions come in twos. Brute force with a computer program identified these 22 solutions: -45,-36,20 -42,-7,6 -40,-24,15 -35,-14,10 -30,-6,5 -28,-21,12 -20,-5,4 -15,-10,6 -12,-4,3 -6,-3,2 -2,-2,1 2,2,-1 6,3,-2 12,4,-3 15,10,-6 20,5,-4 28,21,-12 30,6,-5 35,14,-10 40,24,-15 42,7,-6 45,36,-20 All have the pattern that a and b have the same sign and c has the opposite sign. The most common solution has the pattern (n(n+1),n+1,-n) - or the same pattern with the signs switched. There are other solutions though. I'm not sure if there is a more elegant way to solve this than brute force.
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