Algebra Maybe

Algebra Level 2

Given that a a , b b and c c are distinct integers from 1 to 9 inclusive.

What is the maximum value of a + b + c a × b × c \dfrac{a+b+c}{a\times b\times c} ?


The answer is 1.

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1 solution

Hung Woei Neoh
May 12, 2016

a + b + c a × b × c = a a b c + b a b c + c a b c = 1 b c + 1 a c + 1 a b \dfrac{a+b+c}{a \times b \times c}\\ =\dfrac{a}{abc} + \dfrac{b}{abc} + \dfrac{c}{abc}\\ =\dfrac{1}{bc} + \dfrac{1}{ac} + \dfrac{1}{ab}

Now, we know that the larger the values of the denominators, the smaller the value of the expression.

Thus, we are looking for the smallest possible values of a b , a c ab,\;ac and b c bc

Since we know that a , b a,\;b and c c are distinct integers from 1 1 to 9 9 inclusive, we pick the 3 smallest integers for a , b a,\;b and c c .

a = 1 , b = 2 , c = 3 a=1,\;b=2,\;c=3 (or you can assign the values differently, it doesn't matter as long as there are these 3 numbers)

The maximum value of the expression

= 1 2 ( 3 ) + 1 1 ( 3 ) + 1 1 ( 2 ) = 1 6 + 1 3 + 1 2 = 1 6 + 2 6 + 3 6 = 6 6 = 1 =\dfrac{1}{2(3)} + \dfrac{1}{1(3)} + \dfrac{1}{1(2)}\\ =\dfrac{1}{6} + \dfrac{1}{3} + \dfrac{1}{2}\\ =\dfrac{1}{6} + \dfrac{2}{6} + \dfrac{3}{6}\\ =\dfrac{6}{6} =\boxed{1}

The better way to express why we want the smallest integers is to say that

If b , c b, c are fixed, then to maximize 1 a ( 1 b + 1 c ) + 1 b c \frac{1}{a} \left( \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{c} \right) + \frac{1}{bc} , we just need to minimize a a .

By isolating the variable, we avoid having to be concerned with "partial" effects from changing other variables​.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Could you please explain again ? I didn't understood.

Anurag Pandey - 4 years, 10 months ago

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Which part of the claim (in the box) do you not understand? Isn't it clearly stated?

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 10 months ago

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