Cyclically 91

Find the sum of integers c c for all triples of integers ( a , b , c ) , (a,b,c), a b c , a\leq b \leq c, that satisfy the system of equations { a 2 b c = 91 b 2 a c = 91 c 2 a b = 91 \begin{cases} a^2-bc=91\\ b^2-ac=91\\ c^2-ab=91 \end{cases}

Details and assumptions

If a number c c appears in several different triples ( a , b , c ) , (a,b,c), it must be counted with multiplicity.


The answer is 36.

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6 solutions

David Gs
May 20, 2014

Since 91 is not a perfect square, all variables are non-zero. Not all of them can be positive, since from b a b\ge a and c a c\ge a we would get in that case a 2 b c 0 < 91 a^2-bc \leq 0 < 91 . Not all of them can be negative either, because if ( a , b , c ) (a,b,c) is a solution, then so is ( c , b , a ) (-c,-b,-a) . It follows that c > 0 c > 0 and a < 0 a < 0 , and we can restrict our search to positive b b 's.

Now observe that 91 ( b c ) = b ( b 2 a c ) c ( c 2 a b ) = b 3 c 3 , 91(b - c) = b(b^2-ac)-c(c^2-ab)=b^3-c^3, so 91 = b 3 c 3 b c = b 2 + b c + c 2 = ( c + b 2 ) 2 + 3 b 2 4 ( 3 b 2 ) 2 + 3 b 2 4 = 3 b 2 . 91 = \frac{b^3-c^3}{b-c} = b^2 + bc + c^2=\left(c+\frac{b}{2}\right)^2+\frac{3b^2}{4} \geq \left(\frac{3b}{2} \right)^2 + \frac{3b^2}{4} = 3b^2 . This means that 91 3 b 2 91 \ge 3 b^2 , so b { 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 } b \in\{1,2,3,4,5\} . The only values that result in integral c c are b = 1 , c = 9 b=1,c=9 and b = 5 , c = 6 b=5,c=6 . This leads to the solutions a = 10 , b = 1 , c = 9 a=-10,b=1,c=9 and a = 11 , b = 1 , c = 6 a=-11,b=1,c=6 , and the other two that can be obtained from negating all variables. The sum of all c c s is then 9 + 6 + 10 + 11 = 36 9+6+10+11=36 .

This solution is somewhat shorter and nicer than the intended one. All correct solutions were variations of these two.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago

Much arithmetic in this proof is used to get from 91 = b^2 + bc + c^2 to 91>= 3b^2. But really, that's immediate from 0 < b < c.
Very nice proof, I should add.

Richard Desper - 4 years, 7 months ago
Gabriel Wong
May 20, 2014

(a-b)(a+b+c) = a^2 - b^2 + ac - bc = 0

(b-c)(a+b+c) = 0

(c-a)(a+b+c) = 0

Note that if a+b+c is not equal to 0, then a = b = c; but 91 = a^2 - bc = 0 is a contradiction.

Thus we have a+b+c = 0

(b+c)^2 - bc = 91

b^2 + c^2 + bc = 91

Clearly, a <= b <= 0 <= c or a<= 0 <= b <= c. If a <= 0 <= b <= c. If b = 0, ac = - 91; an impossibility since a = -c.

Thus either a <= b < 0 <= c or a<= 0 < b <= c.

Every solution (a,b,c) corresponds to another valid solution (-c,-b,-a). Thus it suffices to consider the cases where b and c >0

Going back to b^2 + c^2 + bc = 91, simple exhausting of cases gives us:

(-10,1,9) (-11,5,6)

as the only solutions with b and c >0. We thus have (-9,-1,10) and (-6,-5,11) are the other solutions. Summing gives 36

Samuel Virtuoso
May 20, 2014

Subtract any 2 of the equations, eg, 1st and 2nd. (a-b) (a+b+c)=0 If possible, let a=b and further, =k. Hence, subtracting other 2nd and 3rd, (b-c) (a+b+c)=0, gives c= -2k <since a=b=c is not possible as it gives 0=91 upon substituting in given equation> Further, putting c= -2k and a= k in 1st equation, we get 3 {k^2} = 91, which is not possible as k is an integer. Thus our only possibility is a+b+c=0 and none of the two being equal. Now, ab= c^2 -91, and a+b= -c. Thus, x^2 + cx + c^2-91 = 0 has roots a and b. Hence its discriminant should be an integer. 364- 3 {c^2} is a perfect square. We proceed by trial and error with values of c starting from c=1 until this becomes negative. (Note that if c= x satisfies, then c= -x shall also satisfy) We evaluate both the roots of the equation, and in each case, choose the greatest among c and the roots, as a possible value of c. To further shorten this trial and error procedure, suppose we have already obtained the roots x and y for some value c= z. Now we can avoid going for c= x and c= y as we know owing to the symmetry between a, b, and c, they too must satisfy the equations. The obtained triplets are: (-10, -1, 9), (-9, 1, 10), (-6, 5, 11) (-11, -5, 6)

The proof is slightly sketchy

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago
Calvin Lin Staff
May 13, 2014

Subtracting the second equation from the first one, we get ( a b ) ( a + b + c ) = 0. (a-b)(a+b+c)=0. Similarly, subtracting the third equation from the second and the first from the third, we get ( b c ) ( a + b + c ) = 0 (b-c)(a+b+c)=0 and ( c a ) ( a + b + c ) = 0. (c-a)(a+b+c)=0. If a + b + c 0 , a+b+c\neq 0, then a = b = c , a=b=c, which implies that a 2 b c = a 2 a 2 = 0. a^2-bc=a^2-a^2=0. Because a 2 b c = 91 , a^2-bc=91, this is impossible, so a + b + c = 0. a+b+c=0. Thinking of a a as a parameter, we have the following system of equations for b b and c c : { b + c = a b c = a 2 91 \begin{cases} b+c=-a\\ bc=a^2-91 \end{cases} Note that the original system is equivalent to this one, because when a + b + c = 0 a+b+c=0 all three equations become equivalent.

From the Vieta's formula, b b and c c are roots of the following quadratic equation in x x : x 2 + a x + ( a 2 91 ) = 0. x^2+ax+(a^2-91)=0. For the roots to be integers, the discriminant a 2 4 ( a 2 91 ) = 364 3 a 2 a^2-4(a^2-91)=364-3a^2 must be a complete square.

Suppose 364 3 a 2 = m 2 , 364-3a^2=m^2, m 0. m\geq 0. Then, because b c , b\leq c, b = a m 2 , c = a + m 2 . b=\frac{-a-m}{2},\ c=\frac{-a+m}{2}. Because a b c a\leq b \leq c and a + b + c = 0 , a+b+c=0, a 0. a\leq 0. Because 3 a 2 = 364 m 2 364 , 3a^2=364-m^2\leq 364, a 11. |a|\leq 11.

Case 1. a = 11. a=-11. Then m = 1 , m=1, and we get ( a , b , c ) = ( 11 , 5 , 6 ) . (a,b,c)=(-11,5,6).

Case 2. a = 10. a=-10. Then m = 8 , m=8, and we get ( a , b , c ) = ( 10 , 1 , 9 ) . (a,b,c)=(-10,1,9).

Case 3. a = 9. a=-9. Then m = 11 , m=11, and we get ( a , b , c ) = ( 9 , 1 , 10 ) . (a,b,c)=(-9,-1,10).

Case 4. a = 8. a=-8. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

Case 5. a = 7. a=-7. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

Case 6. a = 6. a=-6. Then m = 16 , m=16, and we get ( a , b , c ) = ( 6 , 5 , 11 ) . (a,b,c)=(-6,-5,11).

Case 7. a = 5. a=-5. Then m = 17 , m=17, and we get b = 6 , b=-6, which is less than a a , so no solutions.

Case 8. a = 4. a=-4. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

Case 9. a = 3. a=-3. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

Case 10. a = 2. a=-2. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

Case 11. a = 1. a=-1. Then m = 19 , m=19, and we get b = 9 , b=-9, which is less than a a , so no solutions.

Case 12. a = 0. a=0. Then 364 3 a 2 364-3a^2 is not a complete square, no solutions.

So, overall we got four solutions: ( 11 , 5 , 6 ) , ( 10 , 1 , 9 ) , ( 9 , 1 , 10 ) , ( 6 , 5 , 11 ) . (-11,5,6),\ (-10,1,9),\ (-9,-1,10),\ (-6,-5,11). Therefore, the answer is 6 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 36. 6+9+10+11=36.

Yuchen Liu
May 20, 2014

a²-b²-bc+ac=(a+b)(a-b)+c(a-b)=(a-b)(a+b+c)=0,

we get, a=b or a+b+c=0;

Similarly, b²-c²-ac+ab=(b+c)(b-c)+a(b-c)=(b-c)(a+b+c)=0,

b=c, or a+b+c=0;

if a=b=c, we obtain 0=91 (not possible), so a≠b≠c and a+b+c=0,

c=-(a+b);

since a≤b≤c,

therefore, a<0, a+b<0, c>0.

and we have c²-ab=(a+b)²-ab=91,

solving the indefinite equation,

all possible different values of a,b,c that satisfies the equations are

a=-11, b=5, c=6

a=-10, b=1, c=9

a=-9, b=-1, c=10

a=-6, b=-5, c=11

the sum of integers c = 6+9+10+11=36

"solving the indefinite equation,

all possible different values of a,b,c that satisfies the equations are

a=-11, b=5, c=6

a=-10, b=1, c=9

a=-9, b=-1, c=10

a=-6, b=-5, c=11"

Not clear how these were obtained: started with correct ida, then seemed to abandon it...

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago
Siang Han The
May 20, 2014

6+9+10+11=36

really no proof given, just an indication that all four solutions were obtained

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago

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