A mind eating algebra problem

Algebra Level 2

{ a b + a + b = 524 b c + b + c = 146 c d + c + d = 104 \large \begin{cases} ab + a + b = 524 \\ bc + b + c = 146 \\ cd + c + d = 104 \end{cases}

If four positive integers a a , b b , c c and d d have a product of 8 ! 8! and satisfy the system of equations above, find a d a - d .


The answer is 10.

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1 solution

Given that { a b + a + b = 524 b c + b + c = 146 c d + c + d = 104 \begin{cases} ab+a+b = 524 \\ bc+b+c = 146 \\ cd+c+d = 104 \end{cases} . we note that all a a , b b , c c and d d are even; also that { ( a + 1 ) ( b + 1 ) = 525 . . . ( 1 ) ( b + 1 ) ( c + 1 ) = 147 . . . ( 2 ) ( c + 1 ) ( d + 1 ) = 105 . . . ( 3 ) \begin{cases} (a+1)(b+1) = 525 &...(1) \\ (b+1)(c+1) = 147 &...(2) \\ (c+1)(d+1) = 105 & ...(3) \end{cases}

( 1 ) ( 2 ) : a + 1 c + 1 = 25 7 \implies \dfrac {(1)}{(2)}: \dfrac {a+1}{c+1} = \dfrac {25}7 , Since c c is even the smallest possible value is c = 6 c=6 for a = 24 a=24 to be an integer. The next value c = 20 c=20 , then a = 524 a=524 which is too big.

Now consider

( 1 ) × ( 3 ) ( 2 ) : ( a + 1 ) ( d + 1 ) = 525 × 195 147 = 375 Note that a = 24 25 ( d + 1 ) = 375 d + 1 = 15 d = 14 \begin{aligned} \frac {(1)\times(3)}{(2)}: \quad ({\color{#3D99F6}a}+1)(d+1) & = \frac {525 \times 195}{147} = 375 & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{Note that }a=24 \\ 25(d+1) & = 375 \\ d+1 & = 15 \\ \implies d & = 14 \end{aligned}

a d = 10 \implies a-d = \boxed{10} .


Checking: From ( 2 ) : (2): we get b = 20 b=20 , then a b c d = 24 × 20 × 14 × 6 = 2 7 × 3 2 × 5 × 7 = 8 ! abcd = 24 \times 20 \times 14 \times 6 = 2^7\times 3^2 \times 5 \times 7 = 8! .

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