Special AP

Let a , b , c , d , e a,b,c,d,e be positive integers such that they form an arithmetic progression. If a + b + c + d + e a+b+c+d+e is a perfect cube and b + c + d b+c+d is a perfect square, find the minimum possible value of c . c.


The answer is 675.

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1 solution

Nihar Mahajan
Jan 9, 2016

Since a , b , c , d , e a,b,c,d,e form an arithmetic progression we let

a = c 2 x , b = c x , d = c + x , e = c + 2 x a=c-2x \ , \ b=c-x \ , \ d=c+x \ , \ e=c+2x

So we have :

a + b + c + d + e = 5 c b + c + d = 3 c a+b+c+d+e=5c \\ b+c+d=3c

In order to have 5 c 5c as perfect cube , c c must contain 5 k 5^k where k 2 ( m o d 3 ) k\equiv 2 \pmod{3} and to have 3 c 3c as a perfect square , c c must contain a 3 m 3^m such that m m is odd in its prime factorization. But since 5 c 5c is a perfect cube , m m must be divisible by 3 3 .

The least such possible c = 3 3 × 5 2 = 27 × 25 = 675 c=3^3 \times 5^2 = 27 \times 25 = \boxed{675}

did the same way....BTW (+1)

Rishabh Jain - 5 years, 5 months ago

same way upvoted

Kaustubh Miglani - 5 years, 5 months ago

I used the fact that in an A.P, the sum of terms equidistant from the middle term/terms is equal to the sum of the middle terms/twice the middle term!

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Yes , its a nice strategy too !

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 5 months ago

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You too did almost the same thing but just assumed that the common difference 1.

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 5 months ago

Did you get that question from the Arihant INMO book.

Racchit Jain - 5 years, 5 months ago

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No , its from a past KVPY paper. Actually the original question asked only for number of digits of c c . But then I thought that the problem would be interesting if it asked for the value of c c .

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 5 months ago

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i asked you because... well take a look at the image.

question from INMO book question from INMO book

Racchit Jain - 5 years, 5 months ago

Did it the same way.

Lee Care Gene - 5 years, 5 months ago

It can be shown that the next number is 675 64=43,200. In fact, the set of the possible values of c forms the sequence {675 m^6} where m=1,2,3,....

Mujibur Rahman - 5 years, 3 months ago

Is 0 included as a square/cubic number? Because if it is, the minimum value of c can reach -2.

Nanda Rahsyad - 5 years, 5 months ago

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a,b,c,d,e are POSITIVE check it.u may have misread or may not considered it

Kaustubh Miglani - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Oh yeah... My apologies 😅

Nanda Rahsyad - 5 years, 5 months ago

0 0 is not a positive number. In fact its not negative as well...

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 5 months ago

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