A,B,C's can be difficult

Algebra Level 3

a b c = b + c a = a c b \large \frac{a-b}c = \frac{b+c}a = \frac{a-c}b

What is the possible positive value of a a + b + c \frac a{a+b+c} , if the equation above is fulfilled?


The answer is 0.5.

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4 solutions

Lior Alterman
May 14, 2015

I h a v e a s o l u t i o n w i t h u s i n g j u s t t h i s : a b c = a c b a b c = a c b ( a b ) b = ( a c ) c b 2 c 2 = a b a c ( b c ) ( b + c ) = a ( b c ) b + c = a A n d n o w : a a + b + c = a 2 a = 0.5 I\quad have\quad a\quad solution\quad with\quad using\quad just\quad this:\quad \frac { a-b }{ c } =\frac { a-c }{ b } \\ \frac { a-b }{ c } =\frac { a-c }{ b } \\ (a-b)b\quad =\quad (a-c)c\\ { b }^{ 2 }-{ c }^{ 2 }=ab-ac\\ (b-c)(b+c)=a(b-c)\\ \boxed { b+c=a } \\ \\ And\quad now:\\ \frac { a }{ a+b+c } =\frac { a }{ 2a } =0.5

S a y K = a b c = b + c a = a c b W e u s e r a t i o p r o p e r t y k = m n = p q , t h e n k = m + p n + q A d d i n g F i r s t t w o K = a + c c + a = 1. A d d i n g a l l t h r e e K = 2 a a + b + c a a + b + c = K 2 = 0.5. Say ~ K= \dfrac{a-b}{c} = \dfrac{b+c}{a} = \dfrac{a-c}{b}\\We ~ use~ ratio~ property~k=\dfrac m n =\dfrac p q,~then ~ k=\dfrac{m+p}{n+q}\\Adding ~ First~ two~ K=\dfrac{a+c}{c+a}=1.~~Adding~ all ~three~K=\dfrac{2a}{a+b+c} \\\therefore~\dfrac{a}{a+b+c}=\dfrac K 2 = \color{#D61F06}{0.5}.

John Sy
May 14, 2015

I started this problem by giving values to two out of the three variables. Leaving the last as "x"

Example: Let a=2 b=1 and c=x

Which would give you: 2 1 x = 1 + x 2 = 2 x \frac {2-1}{x} = \frac {1+x}{2}=2-x

But we would only need one pair of expressions to solve for x namely: 1 + x 2 = 2 x . \frac {1+x}{2}=2-x.

Solving for x you would get x=1, which gives us a=2, b=1, and c=1.Which would be true for the conditions given.

Now, if you subtitute the three values into the expression given you would get: 2 2 + 1 + 1 = 1 2 \frac{2}{2+1+1}=\frac{1}{2}

or in other words: 0.5

A nice way of solution. I never thought in this direction before !! Any more comments from any one for explaining this method further ?

Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 1 month ago
Melvin Alas-as
May 14, 2015

c=2a , b=-a

a/(a+b+c)=a/(a-a+2a)=1/2 or 0.5

Can you please explain why c=2a and b=-a ? Thanks.

Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 1 month ago

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