a + b + c + d = 6.44 = a × b × c × d . a+b+c+d=6.44=a\times b\times c \times d.

There are three items at a grocery store whose prices are interesting: the addition of them and the multiplication of them are exactly the same. For example, 1.07 + 1.60 + 3.75 = 6.42 = 1.07 × 1.60 × 3.75. 1.07+1.60+3.75=6.42=1.07\times 1.60 \times 3.75. Now, there are also four items with prices a , b , c , d a, b, c, d such that a + b + c + d = 6.44 = a × b × c × d . a+b+c+d=6.44=a\times b\times c \times d. If a < b < c < d , a<b<c<d, what is the value of 100 ( d a ) ? 100(d-a)?


The answer is 59.

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1 solution

Chan Lye Lee
Aug 13, 2018

Let A = 100 a , B = 100 b , C = 100 c A=100a, B=100b, C=100c and D = 100 d D=100d . Then we have A + B + C + D = 644 A+B+C+D=644 and A B C D = 644000000 ABCD=644000000 .

Since ( u + v ) 2 4 u v = ( u v ) 2 0 (u+v)^2-4uv=\left(u-v\right)^2\ge 0 , we have ( A + B ) 2 4 A B = ( 644 C D ) 2 4 × 644000000 C D 0 (A+B)^2-4AB=(644-C-D)^2-4\times \frac{644000000}{CD} \ge 0 .

Sketch the graph y = ( 644 C x ) 2 4 × 644000000 C x y=(644-C-x)^2 -4\times \frac{644000000}{Cx} . Using geogebra, we know that 0 < y < 644 0<y<644 if 123 C 203 123\le C \le 203 .

Now consider the factors w w of 644000000 = 7 × 23 × 2 8 × 5 6 644000000=7\times 23 \times 2^8 \times 5^6 , where 123 w 203 123 \le w \le 203 . We have w { 125 , 128 , 140 , 160 , 161 , 175 , 184 , 200 } w\in \{125, 128, 140, 160, 161, 175, 184, 200\} .

Note that, if we choose C = 161 = 23 × 7 C=161=23\times 7 , then A , B , D { 140 , 175 , 184 } A,B,D \notin \{140, 175, 184\} as each of these numbers has either 7 or 23 as factor. Similarly, we pick exactly one element from { 140 , 175 } \{140, 175\} as both have 7 as factor.

Note that if C = 128 = 2 7 C=128=2^7 , then A , B , D { 140 , 160 , 184 , 200 } A,B,D \notin \{140, 160, 184,200\} otherwise A B C D ABCD has a factor 2 k 2^k where k > 8 k>8 . This means that if C = 128 = 2 7 C=128=2^7 , then A , B , D { 125 , 161 , 175 } A,B,D \in \{125, 161, 175\} which is not possible as 161 161 and 175 175 appear simultaneously. So 128 128 is not in the consideration.

Note that if C = 161 C=161 , then A , B , D { 125 , 160 , 200 } A,B,D \in \{125, 160, 200\} which is not possible as A + B + C + D 644 A+B+C+D \neq 644 . So 161 161 is not in the consideration.

So A , B , C , D { 125 , 140 , 160 , 175 , 184 , 200 } A,B,C,D \in \{125, 140, 160, 175, 184, 200\}

Using geogebra again, we know if C = 200 C=200 , 134 < x 162 134<x \le162 , so from the above list, A , B , D { 140 , 160 } A,B,D \in \{140, 160\} which is not possible. So 200 200 is not in the consideration.

So either A , B , C , D { 125 , 160 , 175 , 184 } A,B,C,D \in \{125, 160, 175, 184\} or A , B , C , D { 125 , 140 , 160 , 184 } A,B,C,D \in \{125, 140, 160, 184\} .

After checking, A = 125 , B = 160 , C = 175 A=125, B=160, C=175 and D = 184 D=184 satisfy the condition.

So 100 ( d a ) = D A = 184 125 = 59 100\left(d-a\right)=D-A=184-125=\boxed{59} .

Nice question and solution.

Hana Wehbi - 2 years, 10 months ago

my comment was deleted :) I know it was bitter but it was my opinion...

A Former Brilliant Member - 2 years, 10 months ago

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