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Algebra Level 2

a + 1 = b + 2 = c + 3 = d + 4 = a + b + c + d + 5 a+1 = b+2 = c+3 = d+4 = a+b+c+d+5

If a , b , c , a, b, c, and d d are real numbers satisfying the above equation, then find a + b + c + d . a+b+c+d.

5 -5 5 8 \frac{5}{8} 10 3 \frac{-10}{3} 7 3 \frac{-7}{3}

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17 solutions

Pranjal Jain
Dec 12, 2014

a+1=k

b+2=k

c+3=k

d+4=k

Adding, a+b+c+d+10=a+b+c+d+5+5=4k

k+5=4k

3k=5

k= 5 3 \frac{5}{3}

a+b+c+d=k-5= 10 3 \frac{-10}{3}

My thought at start but seem complicated and not applied. This should be the wanted approach. I like this solution than the one I introduced.

Lu Chee Ket - 6 years, 4 months ago

Maths is really a magic

naman garg - 6 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

Yeah..! And fun too..!!

Bhupendra Jangir - 5 years, 3 months ago

c=d+1 b=c+1 a=b+1

d+4=4d+11 -3d=7 d=-7/3, c=-4/3, b=-1/3, a=2/3 a+b+c+d=-10/3

Fernando Dalisay - 5 years ago
Adarsh Kumar
Dec 12, 2014

a + 1 = a + b + c + d + 5 b + c + d = 4................. ( 1 ) b + 2 = a + b + c + d + 5 a + c + d = 3.................. ( 2 ) c + 3 = a + b + c + d + 5 a + b + d = 2................. ( 3 ) d + 4 = a + b + c + d + 5 a + b + c = 1................. ( 4 ) \begin{aligned}\ a+1=a+b+c+d+5\\\Rightarrow b+c+d=-4.................(1)\\ b+2=a+b+c+d+5\\\Rightarrow a+c+d=-3..................(2)\\ c+3=a+b+c+d+5\\\Rightarrow a+b+d=-2.................(3)\\ d+4=a+b+c+d+5\\\Rightarrow a+b+c=-1.................(4)\end{aligned} . Adding the equations(1,2,3,4) gives, \text{. Adding the equations(1,2,3,4) gives,} 3 ( a + b + c + d ) = 10 a + b + c + d = 10 3 . 3*(a+b+c+d)=-10\Rightarrow a+b+c+d=\dfrac{-10}{3}.

I have the same solution as you

Nam Cao Vũ Hoàng - 6 years, 5 months ago
Friends On
Dec 16, 2014

(a+1) + (b+2) + (c+3) + (d+4) = 4(a+b+c+d+5)

therefore a + b +c + d = -10/3

You applied the concept directly in an implicit way. Best among all I think.

Lu Chee Ket - 6 years, 4 months ago

You're so smart man!!! Respect!!!

Đoàn Bảo Duy - 6 years, 4 months ago
Tagesse Lonsamo
Dec 17, 2014

Lets take two expressions at a time and form four equations

a + 1 = b + 2 Subtracting 2 from both sides gives :

b = a - 1 ..........................................................................................(1)

a + 1 = c + 3 Subtracting 3 from both sides yields :

c = a - 2 ...........................................................................................(2)

a + 1 = d + 4 Subtract 2 from both sides to get :

d = a - 3 ..........................................................................................(3)

a + 1 = a + b + c + d + 5 Subtract 5 from both sides to obtain :

a - 4 = a + b + c + d ...........................................................................(4)

Now substitute (1), (2) and (3) into (4), that is, (b by a - 1) ,(c by a - 2) and (d by a - 3), we get : a + a - 1 + a - 2 + a - 3 = a - 4 Solving this gives a = 2/3. Substituting 2/3 for "a" in equation (4) gives a + b + c + d = -10/3.

too lengthy!

Wrik Bhadra - 6 years, 5 months ago
Christian Zinck
Dec 14, 2014

Add a + 1, b + 2, c + 3, and d + 4 together to get a + b + c + d + 10. It is equal to 4(a + b + c + d + 5). Rearrange to get -10 = 3(a + b + c + d). a + b + c + d = -10/3.

Kendall Belles
Dec 22, 2014

I transformed the equations into an augmented matrix:

0111 1 |0 1 1 1 | -1|

1011 2 |1 0 1 1 | -2|

1101 3 |1 1 0 1 | -3|

1110 4 |1 1 1 0 | -4|

Then I solved for reduced row echelon form and summed the augmenting vector

2 3 \frac{2}{3}

- 1 3 \frac{1}{3}

- 4 3 \frac{4}{3}

- 7 3 \frac{7}{3}

Oh my god, it is such a simple question sir that it doesn't need all of which you are talking about.

Venkata Karthik Bandaru - 6 years, 5 months ago

Jeez, keep it simple. Nice solution, but this problem really didn't need that.

Mukul Rathi - 6 years, 5 months ago
Erwin Bacha
Dec 25, 2014

First Represent the other letter/variable in terms of a,

b=a-1

c=a-2

d=a-3

then,

a + b + c + d + 5 = a+1

Substitute b, c and d to the equation,

a + (a-1) + (a-2) + (a-3) + 5 = a + 1

Simplify

4a - 6 + 5 = a+1

4a - 1 = a + 1

4a-a = 1 + 1

3a = 2

dividing both sides by 3,

a = 2/3.

b = -1/3

c = -4/3

d = -7/3

Thus, a + b + c + d will be

2/3 + (-1/3) + (-4/3) + (-7/3) = -10/3

Khoa Viet
Mar 4, 2016

(a+1)+(b+2)+(c+3)+(d+4)= 4(a+b+c+d+5). <=> (a+b+c+d)+10 = 4(a+b+c+d) +20. <=> 3(a+b+c+d)= -10. <=> a+b+c+d = -10/3

a + b + c + d + 10 = 4(a + b + c + d + 5)
3(a + b + c + d) = -10
a + b + c + d = -10/3

Ellen Yan
Jan 27, 2015

(a+1)+(b+2)+(c+3)+(d+4)=4(a+b+c+d+5) (a+b+c+d)+10=4(a+b+c+d)+20 -3(a+b+c+d)=10 a+b+c+d=-3/10

Katie Marsden
Jan 21, 2015

a+1=b+2 ==> a-1=b a+1=c+3 ==> a-2=c a+1=d+4 ==> a-3=d

a+b+c+d= a + a-1 + a-2 + a-3 = 4a-6

a+1=a+b+c+d+5 =(4a-6)+5 a+1 = 4a-1 3a-1=1 3a=2 a=2/3

4*(2/3) - 6 = a+b+c+d = -10/3

Lu Chee Ket
Jan 17, 2015

Consider separately at every once,

a + (a - 1) + (a - 2) = -1

a = 2/ 3

a + b + c + d = a + 1 - 5 = 2/ 3 - 12/ 3 = -10/ 3

Not checked again as it is one of all from a multiple choice where no invalid as answer.

Rishi Sharma
Jan 7, 2015

same as @pranjal jain

Girish Bellary
Jan 3, 2015

a+1=b+2=c+3=d+4=a+b+c+d+5.

Adding the first 4 equations, a+b+c+d+10= 4 [ a+b+c+d+5]

Put a+b+c+d=m.

m+10=4 [ m + 5] m+10 = 4m + 20. 3m = -10. m = -10/3.

Hence , a+b+c+d = -10/3.

Jack Rawlin
Dec 24, 2014

Since

a + 1 = b + 2 = c + 3 = d + 4 = a + b + c + d + 5 a + 1 = b + 2 = c + 3 = d + 4 = a + b + c + d + 5

We can find equations for b b , c c and d d in terms of a a

b = a 1 b = a - 1

c = a 2 c = a - 2

d = a 3 d = a - 3

Substituting these in creates the equation

a + 1 = a + ( a 1 ) + ( a 2 ) + ( a 3 ) + 5 a + 1 = a + (a - 1) + (a - 2) + (a - 3) + 5

Which then simplifies down to

a + 1 = 4 a 1 a + 1 = 4a - 1

Solving this gives us

a = 2 3 a = \frac {2}{3}

We now substitute this value back in to get

a + b + c + d + 5 = 4 ( 2 3 ) 1 a + b + c + d + 5 = 4(\frac {2}{3}) - 1

Solving this with a bit of re-arranging gives us

a + b + c + d = 10 3 a + b + c + d = \frac {-10}{3}

Abrar Rizvi
Dec 20, 2014

b = a - 1, c = a - 2 and d = a - 3

a + 1 = a + b + c + d + 5

a + 1 = a + a - 1 + a - 2 + a - 3 + 5
=> a + 1 = 4a - 1
=> 3a = 2

=> a = 2/3

Adding, a + b + c + d

= 2/3 + 2/3 -1 +2/3 - 2 + 2/3 - 3

= (2+2-3+2-6+2-9)/3 = -10/3

Anna Anant
Dec 17, 2014

a+1+b+2+c+3+d+4 = 4(a+b+c+d+5) a+b+c+d+10=4(a+b+c+d)+20 -3(a+b+c+d)=10 a+b+c+d=-10/3

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