How do I formulate the equations?

Algebra Level 3

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?

1 2 3 4 5

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3 solutions

Naren Bhandari
Nov 7, 2017

As we have been provided with 5 integers, they are 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 1,2,3,4,5 among which 4 integers are included and 1 is excluded to get possible sum of 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 6,7,8,9 from any 3 integers.

Step1 : Smallest possible sum of 3 3 integers is 6 6 which can obviously be obtained from 1 , 2 , 3 1,2,3 as 4 , 5 4,5 makes a difference of 6 4 = 2 = ( 1 + 1 ) c c c c c c 6 5 = 1 + 0 6-4= 2 = (1+1) \phantom{cccccc} 6-5 = 1+0 respectively. So we can easily decide that among 4 4 integers 3 3 of them are 1 , 2 , 3 1,2,3

Step 2 : Second smallest possible sum is 7 7 which be obtained by adding 1 , 2 , 4 1,2,4 as 4 makes a difference of 7 4 = 3 = 1 + 2 7-4=3 = 1+2 however 5 makes a difference of 7 5 = 2 = 1 + 1 7-5= 2=1+1 .

Step3 : Next possible sums are 8 8 and 9 9 . Since 8 = 1 + 3 + 4 8=1+3+4 and 9 = 5 + 4 = ( 2 + 3 ) + 4 = 2 + 3 + 4 9=5+4 =(2+3)+4 = 2+3+4 (sum of three integers)

Hence we can see that 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1,2,3,4 are required integers.

Ong Zi Qian
Nov 7, 2017

Let the four numbers be a , b , c , d 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 a equal to b b , a + c + d a+c+d will equal to b + c + d b+c+d )

Let us say that a + b + c = 6 a + b + d = 7 a + c + d = 8 b + c + d = 9 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 3a+3b+3c+3d=6+7+8+9

3 ( a + b + c + d ) = 30 3(a+b+c+d)=30

a + b + c + d = 10 a+b+c+d=10

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10 1+2+3+4=10 \Rightarrow the four numbers cannot be 5 \boxed 5

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. :)

Naren Bhandari - 3 years, 7 months ago

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Haha, that's a nice coincidence.XD

Ong Zi Qian - 3 years, 7 months ago
Md Mehedi Hasan
Nov 7, 2017

Let, the 4 4 numbers are a , b , c , d a,b,c,d

Now we can say, a + b + c = 6 a + b + d = 7 a + c + d = 8 b + c + d = 9 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 a=1; b=2; c=3; d=4

So 5 \boxed5 is the answer, which is not to you.

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