If four positive integers , , and have a product of and satisfy the system of equations above, find .
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Given that ⎩ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎧ a b + a + b = 5 2 4 b c + b + c = 1 4 6 c d + c + d = 1 0 4 . we note that all a , b , c and d are even; also that ⎩ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎧ ( a + 1 ) ( b + 1 ) = 5 2 5 ( b + 1 ) ( c + 1 ) = 1 4 7 ( c + 1 ) ( d + 1 ) = 1 0 5 . . . ( 1 ) . . . ( 2 ) . . . ( 3 )
⟹ ( 2 ) ( 1 ) : c + 1 a + 1 = 7 2 5 , Since c is even the smallest possible value is c = 6 for a = 2 4 to be an integer. The next value c = 2 0 , then a = 5 2 4 which is too big.
Now consider
( 2 ) ( 1 ) × ( 3 ) : ( a + 1 ) ( d + 1 ) 2 5 ( d + 1 ) d + 1 ⟹ d = 1 4 7 5 2 5 × 1 9 5 = 3 7 5 = 3 7 5 = 1 5 = 1 4 Note that a = 2 4
⟹ a − d = 1 0 .
Checking: From ( 2 ) : we get b = 2 0 , then a b c d = 2 4 × 2 0 × 1 4 × 6 = 2 7 × 3 2 × 5 × 7 = 8 ! .