What is the number ABC when
ABC = A! + B! + C!
where A,B and C are integers greater than 0
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Given that A , B , and C are all positive, we can start drawing conclusions about the three numbers.
1) the maximum of { A , B , C } is at most 5 . Clearly the maximum can not be 7 or more, as 7 ! = 5 0 4 0 , which is too big for our sum. Also, since 6 ! = 7 2 0 , if 6 is one of the three numbers, A is at least 7 , which again is not possible.
2) the maximum of { A , B , C } is at least 5 . Since 4 ! = 2 4 , if the maximum of { A , B , C } is less than 4 , then A B C = A ! + B ! + C ! ≤ 7 2 , a contradiction.
3) It is not possible that A ∈ { 4 , 5 } , since A ! + B ! + C ! ≤ 3 × 5 ! = 3 6 0 .
4) A = 3 is not possible, as that would imply A ! + B ! + C ! ≤ 3 ! + 2 ∗ 5 ! = 2 4 6 < 3 0 0 , a contradiction.
5) Suppose A = 2 . Consider the possibility { B , C } = { 4 , 5 } . But 2! + 4! + 5! = 146, which would contradict A = 2 . Thus it must be the case that B = C = 5 . But 2 ! + 5 ! + 5 ! = 2 4 2 , which does not satisfy the condition.
6) Thus A = 1 and either B = 5 or C = 5 . At this point we can simply run through the five possible sums:
It is clear that the only solution is ABC = 145.