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Algebra Level 2

Given that: x+y+z=15 where x,y and z are distinct positive integers.

Find what is the biggest possible answer for (xy+xz+yz).


The answer is 74.

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2 solutions

Clarence Chew
Mar 16, 2014

Suppose we say the integers that makes it largest are x < y < z x<y<z in that order.

We now show that y x < 3 y-x<3 and z y < 3 z-y<3 .

The expression x y + y z + z x xy+yz+zx is equal to x y + ( x + y ) z xy+(x+y)z .

If y x 3 y-x\geq 3 , we can increase x x by one and decrease y y by 1.

( x + 1 ) ( y 1 ) = x y + y x 1 x y (x+1)(y-1)=xy+y-x-1\geq xy

A similar argument follows for z y < 3 z-y<3 .

If y x = 2 y-x=2 and z y = 2 z-y=2 , we can increase x x by one and decrease z z by 1. A similar argument follows.

We consider mod 3. It is well known that if x + y + z 0 x+y+z\equiv 0 , then x , y , z x, y, z are congruent, or all different mod 3.

If one of y x , z y y-x, z-y is 2, then the other is 1. Regardless, z y + y x = 3 z-y+y-x=3 , thus x , z x, z congruent mod 3. Thus y y is congruent to x x mod 3, but 0 < y x < 3 0<y-x<3 from above, and y cannot be congruent to x. Thus both of y x , z y y-x, z-y are 1.

Thus the only possible triplet is ( 4 , 5 , 6 ) (4, 5, 6) . Evaluating, we get 74.

Varun Ramanathan
Mar 4, 2014

The largest distinct numbers are 4, 5 and 6. 4 × 5 + 5 × 6 + 6 × 4 = 74 4 \times 5 + 5 \times 6 + 6 \times 4 = \boxed{74}

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