We know that by the distributive property a ( b + c ) = a b + a c is an identity. However, a + b c = ( a + b ) ( a + c ) is not an identity.
Find the number of ordered triples of integers ( a , b , c ) in the interval [ − 1 0 , 1 0 ] such that a + b c = ( a + b ) ( a + c ) .
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Sir, I am getting the answer as 761;
441 cases when a=0; 21 cases when a=1; 20 cases when a=2; 19 for a=3 and so on till 12 for a=10;
Similarly I get 20 cases for a=(-1); 19 cases for a=(-2) and so on till 11 cases for a=(-10) and then
441+ 21 + 2(20+19+18......+12) +11 = 761 ; so which 10 cases am I overcounting?
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Check your a is negative case again. You can match your numbers up against mine see that the a < 0 count is off.
Rearrange the equation we get a = a ( a + b + c ) . With a = 0 , the equation becomes a + b + c = 1 , where a , b , c ∈ [ − 1 0 , 1 0 ] . Now, we will ignore the fact that a = 0 and eliminate that case later.
Interesting things happen now, move c to RHS to form a + b = 1 − c . Then this is the space for all combination a , b within their domain.
Their sum must be within 1 − c ∈ [ − 9 , 1 1 ] , which is
The problem becomes finding the number of lattice points within the polygon. We will do this by applying Pick's Theorem.
Area = 2 0 × 2 0 − 2 1 × 1 1 × 1 1 − 2 1 × 9 × 9
B = 3 × 9 + 3 × 1 1
By Pick's Theorem,
Area = I + 2 B − 1
which gives us I = 2 7 0 , so the number of lattice points within the polygon is I + B = 3 3 0 .
Recall that in this case, we considered a = 0 , but we need not have b + c = 1 . So we will remove the case b + c = 1 and add all their combinations. The number of cases where b + c = 1 is 2 0 and their total combinations is 2 1 × 2 1 = 4 4 1 . Hence, the answer is 3 3 0 − 2 0 + 4 4 1 = 7 5 1 .
Here's a generating functions solution.
Note that a + b c = ( a + b ) ( a + c ) ⟺ a = a 2 + a ( b + c )
Case 1: a = 0
In this case, b and c can take any value. So, this case gives rise to 2 1 × 2 1 = 4 4 1 solutions.
Case 2: a = 0
The condition now reduces to a + b + c = 1
In this case, the number of solutions is equal to the coefficient of x in the following expression :
( − 1 + A ) A 2 where A = r = − 1 0 ∑ 1 0 x r = x 1 0 1 1 − x 1 − x 2 1
where the gp summation formula is used to get the last form of A .
So, the expression now becomes x 3 0 1 ( 1 − x ) 3 1 ( 1 − x 2 1 ) 2 ( 1 − x 2 1 − x 1 0 ( 1 − x ) ) ( ∗ )
Now, Newton's binomial theorem shows that ( 1 − x ) 3 1 = r = 0 ∑ ∞ ( 2 r + 2 ) x r
Simplifying the numerator of (*), we get the following :
x 3 0 1 ( r = 0 ∑ ∞ ( 2 r + 2 ) x r ) ( 1 − x 1 0 + x 1 1 − 3 x 2 1 + 2 x 3 1 + x 3 2 ( some more terms ) )
Hence, the coefficient of x in the expression is ( 2 3 3 ) + ( 2 2 2 ) − ( 2 2 3 ) − 3 ( 2 1 2 ) + 2 ( 2 2 ) = 3 1 0
And so, total number of solutions is 4 4 1 + 3 1 0 = 7 5 1
Why did you select the generating function as ( − 1 + A ) A 2 and not A 3
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Coz a = 0
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Oh yeah I did not remember to exclude the first case that has already been considered.
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a ( b + c ) = a b + a c ⇔ a ( a + b + c − 1 ) = 0
Let's consider the following cases:
Case 1. a = 0 .
Then b , c can be any value, so there are 2 1 × 2 1 = 4 4 1 possibilties.
Case 2. a > 0 .
We must have a + b + c = 1 .
Use the change of variables x → a , y → b + 1 1 , z → c + 1 1 . Then we are looking for positive integer solutions to
x + y + z = a + ( b + 1 1 ) + ( c + 1 1 ) = 2 3 , 1 ≤ x ≤ 1 0 , 1 ≤ y ≤ 2 1 , 1 ≤ z ≤ 2 1
We apply PIE to the restrictions of x ≥ 1 1 , y ≥ 2 2 , z ≥ 2 2 . We are looking for the number of solutions that satisfy none of these conditions.
If there are no restrictions, then there are ( 2 2 2 ) = 2 3 1 .
If we have the single restriction x ≥ 1 1 , then using the change of variables X → x − 1 0 , we are looking for positive integer solutions to X + y + z = 1 3 , of which there are ( 2 1 2 ) = 6 6 solutions.
If we have the single restriction that y ≥ 2 2 , then using the change of variables Y → y − 2 1 , we are looking for positive integer solutions to x + Y + z = 2 , of which there are ( 2 1 ) = 0 solutions.
Similarly, if we have the single restriction that z ≥ 2 2 , then there are ( 2 1 ) = 0 solutions.
If we have any pair of restrictions, clearly there are no solutions.
If we have all 3 restrictions, clearly there are no solutions.
Hence, in this case, there are 2 3 1 − ( 6 6 + 0 + 0 ) + ( 0 + 0 + 0 ) − 0 = 1 6 5 solutions.
Case 3. a < 0 . We must have a + b + c = 1 .
Use the change of variables x → − a , y → − b + 1 1 , z → − c + 1 1 . Then, we are looking for positive itneger solutions to
x + y + z = − a + ( − b + 1 1 ) + ( − c + 1 1 ) = 2 1 , 1 ≤ y ≤ 2 1 , 1 ≤ z ≤ 2 1
We apply PIE to the restrictions of x ≥ 1 1 , y ≥ 2 2 , z ≥ 2 2 . We are looking for the number of solutions that satisfy none of these conditions.
If there are no restrictions, then there are ( 2 2 0 ) = 1 9 0 .
If we have the single restriction x ≥ 1 1 , then using the change of variables X → x − 1 0 , we are looking for positive integer solutions to X + y + z = 1 1 , of which there are ( 2 1 0 ) = 5 5 solutions.
If we have the single restriction that y ≥ 2 2 , then using the change of variables Y → y − 2 1 , we are looking for positive integer solutions to x + Y + z = 0 , of which there are 0 solutions in positive integers. Similarly, if we have the single restriction that z ≥ 2 2 , then there are 0 solutions in positive integers.
If we have any pair of restrictions, clearly there are no solutions.
If we have all 3 restrictions, clearly there are no solutions.
Hence, in this case, there are 1 9 0 − ( 5 5 + 0 + 0 ) + ( 0 + 0 + 0 ) − 0 = 1 3 5 solutions.
Thus, there are a total of 4 4 1 + 1 6 5 + 1 3 5 = 7 5 1 solutions.