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Algebra Level 3

{ a + 1 b = 7 3 b + 1 c = 4 c + 1 a = 1 \large{\begin{cases} a + \frac 1b = \frac73 \\ b + \frac1c = 4 \\ c + \frac1a = 1 \end{cases}}

If a , b , a,b, and c c are real numbers that satisfy the system of equations above, find the value of a b c abc .


The answer is 1.

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3 solutions

Multiply the three equations:

( a + 1 b ) ( b + 1 c ) ( c + 1 a ) = ( 7 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 1 ) \left(a+\dfrac{1}{b}\right)\left(b+\dfrac{1}{c}\right)\left(c+\dfrac{1}{a}\right)=\left(\dfrac{7}{3}\right)(4)(1)

a b c + 1 a b c + a + 1 b + b + 1 c + c + 1 a = 28 3 abc+\dfrac{1}{abc}+a+\dfrac{1}{b}+b+\dfrac{1}{c}+c+\dfrac{1}{a}=\dfrac{28}{3}

a b c + 1 a b c + 7 3 + 4 + 1 = 28 3 abc+\dfrac{1}{abc}+\dfrac{7}{3}+4+1=\dfrac{28}{3}

a b c + 1 a b c = 2 abc+\dfrac{1}{abc}=2

a b c = 1 abc=1

Damn it i did it just solving all three equations. This is much faster!

Ferran Espuña - 5 years, 7 months ago

Not making sense. A number of steps must have been omitted. Subtracting 28/3 from 28/3 to balance the equation gives zero, not 2. I can't validate the last steps. Sorry.

Bobby Lite - 5 years, 7 months ago

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Subtracting 22/3 from 28/3

Zakir Dakua - 5 years, 7 months ago
Andy Hayes
Oct 27, 2015

Solve the first equation for b b in terms of a a :

b = 3 7 3 a b=\frac{3}{7-3a}

Solve the last equation for c c in terms of a a :

c = a 1 a c=\frac{a-1}{a}

Substitute these expressions for b b and c c into the second equation:

3 7 3 a + a a 1 = 4 \frac{3}{7-3a}+\frac{a}{a-1}=4

Solving this equation yields a = 5 3 a=\frac{5}{3} . Substituting this value into the other equations yields b = 3 2 b=\frac{3}{2} and c = 2 5 c=\frac{2}{5} .

a b c = ( 5 3 ) ( 3 2 ) ( 2 5 ) = 1 abc=\left(\frac{5}{3}\right)\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)\left(\frac{2}{5}\right)=\boxed{1} .

This is the most efficient solution.

Tek Neg - 5 years, 7 months ago

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I kind of like Alan's solution. When I was working on a solution, I recognized the 'parallelism' of the equations, and so I was looking for something like Alan's solution. I think I overcomplicated my approach, and so I didn't quite find the 'easy' solution. That's when I went for a 'solve by substitution' approach.' Not quite as elegant, but it gets the job done in this case.

Andy Hayes - 5 years, 7 months ago

I tried a trick method and it worked.

abc=1 if and only if [1/(1+a+1/b)]+[1/(1+b+1/c)]+[1/(1+c+1/a)]=1 (an interesting problem to try as an exercise)

Here [1/(1+a+1/b)]+[1/(1+b+1/c)]+[1/(1+c+1/a)]=1/[1+3/7]+1/[4+1]+1/[1+1]=3/10+1/5+1/2=(3+2+5)/10=1, i.e., abc=1.

1234567890

Nariman Hajjarian - 3 years, 3 months ago

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0000000000

Nariman Hajjarian - 3 years, 3 months ago

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