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Algebra Level 4

1 x 2 + 2 y 2 + 3 z 2 = 2 3 \large\ \frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{2}{y^2}+\frac{3}{z^2} =\frac 23

Find the number of triplets of integers x , y , z x, y, z satisfying the equation above.


The answer is 8.

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1 solution

Kushal Bose
Nov 10, 2016

Let x y z 1 / x 1 / y 1 / z 1 / x 2 1 / y 2 1 / z 2 x\geq y\geq z \\ 1/x \leq 1/y \leq 1/z \\ 1/x^2 \leq 1/y^2 \leq 1/z^2

1 x 2 + 2 y 2 + 3 z 2 1 z 2 + 2 z 2 + 3 z 2 = 6 z 2 6 z 2 2 / 3 z 2 9 z 3 \frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{2}{y^2}+\frac{3}{z^2} \leq \frac{1}{z^2} +\frac{2}{z^2} +\frac{3}{z^2}=\frac{6}{z^2} \\ \implies \frac{6}{z^2} \geq 2/3 \\ \implies z^2 \leq 9 \\ \implies |z| \leq 3

Here if z is a solution then -z is also a solution

Now putting z = 3 |z|=3 we get:

1 x 2 + 2 y 2 = 2 / 3 1 / 3 = 1 / 3 \frac{1}{x^2} + \frac{2}{y^2}=2/3-1/3=1/3

Again applying inequality x y x \geq y we get y 3 |y| \leq 3

Now subcases y = 1 , 2 , 3 |y|=1,2,3 only y ± 3 y\pm 3 gives solution x = ± 3 x=\pm 3

It can be easily checked that other cases subcases give no solution.

So there are 8 8 triplets are ( x , y , z ) = ± 3 , ± 3 , ± 3 (x,y,z)=\pm 3,\pm 3,\pm 3

Thanks for submitting a solution. However, I think you have made several mistakes.

  1. Since the equation is not cyclic or symmetric, you may not assume that x y z x \geq y \geq z .
  2. I'm not sure how you went from z 3 z = 3 |z | \leq 3 \Rightarrow |z| = 3 . Why can't we have z = 2 z = 2 ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

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Because it has z^2 in the denominator for that if you put 2 or -2 it doesn't matter.

Kushal Bose - 4 years, 7 months ago

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I agree that "If z = 2 z = 2 is a solution, then z = 2 z = -2 is a solution". Let me remove that from the remark to reduce confusion.

I am questioning how "Since z 3 |z | \leq 3 , hence z = 3 |z | = 3 ." Why can't we have z = 2 z = 2 ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Calvin Lin I have modified solution . After getting range I just put values in the equation and checking whether they are integers or not.

Kushal Bose - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Kushal Bose Yes, one way to deal point 2 of z 3 |z | \leq 3 is to then check for all of these values. (I do not see the solution edited to reflect this as yet)

However, you have not dealt with my point 1 above. Do you see how to fix this?

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Calvin Lin Can u repeat your question again ?

Kushal Bose - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Kushal Bose

  1. Since the equation is not cyclic or symmetric, you may not assume that x y z x \geq y \geq z .

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Calvin Lin Ohh yes I understood my mistake.I have considered a special case.Plz tell me how to fix this Thank u.

Kushal Bose - 4 years, 7 months ago

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@Kushal Bose Think about it some. You have the right ideas already. IE If z z was the largest, how can we modify the solution?

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

Please explain me why no other subcases that give no solution ? I still don't understand how to do that

Daniel Sugihantoro - 4 years, 6 months ago

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