I have 4 numbers, the sum of any 3 of these numbers is equal to 6, 7, 8, and 9 respectively.
Which of the following cannot be one of the 4 numbers that I have?
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Let the four numbers be a , b , c , d ,
Hence the sum of any 3 of the numbers are different, we can know that the four numbers are different. ( If a equal to b , a + c + d will equal to b + c + d )
Let us say that a + b + c = 6 a + b + d = 7 a + c + d = 8 b + c + d = 9 ,
add them up, we get 3 a + 3 b + 3 c + 3 d = 6 + 7 + 8 + 9
3 ( a + b + c + d ) = 3 0
a + b + c + d = 1 0
What a timing we have posting solutions? I was thinking the same to write solution in alternate way however we got same timing(I think). Nice solution. :)
Let, the 4 numbers are a , b , c , d
Now we can say, a + b + c = 6 a + b + d = 7 a + c + d = 8 b + c + d = 9
Solving that we get, a = 1 ; b = 2 ; c = 3 ; d = 4
So 5 is the answer, which is not to you.
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As we have been provided with 5 integers, they are 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 among which 4 integers are included and 1 is excluded to get possible sum of 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 from any 3 integers.
Step1 : Smallest possible sum of 3 integers is 6 which can obviously be obtained from 1 , 2 , 3 as 4 , 5 makes a difference of 6 − 4 = 2 = ( 1 + 1 ) c c c c c c 6 − 5 = 1 + 0 respectively. So we can easily decide that among 4 integers 3 of them are 1 , 2 , 3
Step 2 : Second smallest possible sum is 7 which be obtained by adding 1 , 2 , 4 as 4 makes a difference of 7 − 4 = 3 = 1 + 2 however 5 makes a difference of 7 − 5 = 2 = 1 + 1 .
Step3 : Next possible sums are 8 and 9 . Since 8 = 1 + 3 + 4 and 9 = 5 + 4 = ( 2 + 3 ) + 4 = 2 + 3 + 4 (sum of three integers)
Hence we can see that 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 are required integers.