Calculators are for the lazy

Algebra Level 3

Compute 1 + 30 × 31 × 32 × 33 \sqrt{1+30\times31\times32\times33} without a calculator.


Try Part II


The answer is 991.

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4 solutions

Aaron Tsai
May 8, 2016

Let x = 30 x=30 . Then,

1 + 30 31 32 33 \sqrt{1+30\cdot 31\cdot 32\cdot 33}

= 1 + x ( x + 1 ) ( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) =\sqrt{1+x\cdot (x+1)\cdot (x+2)\cdot (x+3)}

= x 4 + 6 x 3 + 11 x 2 + 6 x + 1 =\sqrt{x^{4}+6x^{3}+11x^{2}+6x+1}

= ( x 2 + 3 x + 1 ) 2 =\sqrt{(x^2+3x+1)^{2}}

= x 2 + 3 x + 1 =x^{2}+3x+1

Since x = 30 x=30 ,

x 2 + 3 x + 1 = 900 + 90 + 1 = 991 x^{2}+3x+1=900+90+1=\boxed{991}


Note that all positive integers that can be expressed in the form 1 + ( n ) ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) ( n + 3 ) 1+(n)(n+1)(n+2)(n+3) are perfect squares.

Also note that the answer is always the second term multiplied by the fourth term plus one, since x ( x + 3 ) + 1 = x 2 + 3 x + 1 x(x+3)+1=x^2+3x+1

Wonderful problem and solution. Keep it up!

Sandeep Bhardwaj - 5 years, 1 month ago

Calculation are easier if they are taken as x-1 ,x ,x+1, x+2

Deepesh Pandey - 5 years, 1 month ago

Same way as i did

Jason Chrysoprase - 5 years, 1 month ago

Can you tell me hoe factorize high polynomial ?

Daniel Sugihantoro - 5 years, 1 month ago

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In this particular case, it is done by the method of completing the square.

Sandeep Bhardwaj - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Oh thank you

Daniel Sugihantoro - 5 years, 1 month ago

I actually did sqrt(982081) :(.

Brian Wang - 5 years, 1 month ago

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You mean you count it without calculator ;)

Jason Chrysoprase - 5 years, 1 month ago

not only that. all positive integer that can be expressed in the form (a^4+(n)(n+a)(n+2a)(n+3a)) are perfect square. Bonus: (a^4+(n)(n+a)(n+2a)(n+3a))=(((n)(n+3a)+a^2)^2), or (a^4+(n)(n+a)(n+2a)(n+3a))=(((n+a)(n+2a)-a^2)^2)

Justin Adrian Halim - 5 years, 1 month ago
Hung Woei Neoh
May 8, 2016

For people who cannot factorize higher order polynomials:

30 × 33 = 990 30 \times 33 = 990 and 31 × 32 = 960 + 32 = 992 31 \times 32 = 960 + 32 = 992

The expression can now be written as:

1 + 30 31 32 33 = 1 + 990 × 992 \sqrt{1+30 \cdot 31 \cdot 32 \cdot 33}\\ =\sqrt{1 + 990 \times 992}

Let n = 990 n=990 . Then, 992 = n + 2 992 = n+2

Substitute them in:

1 + 990 × 992 = 1 + ( n ) ( n + 2 ) = n 2 + 2 n + 1 = ( n + 1 ) 2 = n + 1 = 990 + 1 = 991 \sqrt{1 + 990 \times 992}\\ =\sqrt{1+(n)(n+2)}\\ =\sqrt{n^2+2n+1}\\ =\sqrt{(n+1)^2}\\ =n+1 = 990 + 1 = \boxed{991}

why did you write 31 x 32 = 960 + 32 = 992 ?

Karish Thangarajah - 5 years, 1 month ago

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This is how I calculated the product without a calculator:

31 × 32 = 32 × ( 30 + 1 ) = 32 × 30 + 32 × 1 = 960 + 32 = 992 31 \times 32 = 32 \times (30 + 1) = 32 \times 30 + 32 \times 1 = 960 + 32 = 992

Hung Woei Neoh - 5 years, 1 month ago

You used your brain nicely

ADITYA D - 5 years, 1 month ago
Andrew Mason
May 14, 2016

Brute force approach (Please ignore my mistake losing a factor or 10 on 30^4 and 30^3, just showing the method I used) Brute Force Brute Force

Ayush G Rai
May 10, 2016

the answer is 30*33+1=991.

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