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Algebra Level 3

Given the three equations for a , b , c R a,b,c \in R : { b 2 = a c a + b + c = 21 a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = 189 \begin{cases} b^2=ac \\a+b+c=21 \\ a^2+b^2+c^2=189 \end{cases} Find a × b × c \large \lfloor a \times b \times c \rfloor .


The answer is 216.

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9 solutions

Yash Singhal
Oct 31, 2014

a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = a 2 + a c + c 2 = 189 a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}=a^{2}+ac+c^{2}=189 .

Adding and Subtracting a c ac in the above expression we get:

a 2 + 2 a c + c 2 a c = ( a + c ) 2 b 2 = 189 a^{2}+2ac+c^{2}-ac=(a+c)^{2}-b^{2}=189 .

Now, a + c = 21 b a+c=21-b . Substituting the value of a + c a+c in the above equation we get:

( 21 b ) 2 b 2 = 189 (21-b)^{2}-b^{2}=189 and b = 6 b=6 .

Now, a 2 + c 2 = 153 a^{2}+c^{2}=153 and a c = 36 ac=36 .

( a c ) 2 = a 2 + c 2 2 a c = 153 72 = 81 (a-c)^{2}=a^{2}+c^{2}-2ac=153-72=81

So, a c = ± 9 a-c=\pm{9} .

Taking a c = 9 a-c=9 , we get a = 12 a=12 and c = 3 c=3 .

Hence, the desired answer is 12 × 6 × 3 = 216 \lfloor{12\times 6\times 3}\rfloor=216 .

Taking a c = 9 a-c=-9 , we get a = 3 a=3 and c = 12 c=12 .

Hence, the desired answer is 3 × 6 × 12 = 216 \lfloor{3\times 6\times 12}\rfloor=216

So, considering both the cases our final answer is 216 \huge{216} .

You could have saved yourself a lot of steps... b=6, and abc=b^2 *b = b^3...

Aloysius Ng - 6 years, 6 months ago

Nice solution !

Sandeep Bhardwaj - 6 years, 7 months ago

Similar to Alexandra Hewitt .
441 = ( a + b + c ) 2 = a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2 ( a b + b c + c a ) = 189 + 2 ( a b + b c + b 2 ) 441 189 = 252 = 2 b ( a + b + c ) = 2 b 21. b = 6. a b c = b 3 = 216. S a m e f o r f l o o r f u c t i o n . 441= (a + b +c)^2 \\= a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + 2(ab + bc + c a) \\= 189 + 2(ab + bc + b^2)\\ \implies~441-189= 252\\=2b(a + b + c) \\=2b*21. ~\\ \implies~~b=6. \\ ~\therefore~a*b*c=b^3=216 . Same for floor fuction.

So how do I get it to start a new line?!

Alexandra Hewitt - 6 years, 7 months ago

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Say you have in Latex " aaa. bbb." To star a new line at bbb, put it as
" aaa.\\bbb." See the result below.
. . . . . . . a a a . b b b . a s a a a . b b b . .......aaa. bbb. ~~as~\\~ aaa.\\bbb.\\~~~
after inserting ...... aaa. \\bbb. gives this result..


Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 7 months ago

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I've just tried that but it doesn't work.

Alexandra Hewitt - 6 years, 7 months ago
Akshay Bhatia
Nov 1, 2014

ab+bc+ca=126

b(a+c)+ca=126

b(21-b)+b^2=126

so b=6 hence ac=36

so abc =216

so simple question!

You should show how you get 126 and separate all equations.

Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 7 months ago

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But 126 is not even the answer sir...

Akshay Bhatia - 6 years, 7 months ago

oh so sorry..I thought you were talking of final answer.!

Akshay Bhatia - 6 years, 7 months ago
Anna Anant
Nov 15, 2014

a^2+ac+c^2=189 (Substituting Equation 1 to Equation 3) a^2+2ac+c^2=189+b^2(Addingboth sides by b^2: +ac in the left,+b^2 for right) (a+c)^2=189+b^2 (Simplify left side) a+c=(189+b^2)^1/2 (Derived Equation 1) b+ (189+b^2)^1/2 = 21 (Derived Equation 1 substituted to Equation 2) 189+b^2=441-42b_b^2 (Transposing b to the right side, squaring both sides) b=6 (Simplifying) b^2=ac (Equation 1) abc=b^3=216 (Equation 1)

Asare Baffour
Nov 9, 2014

By : Pradeep Sparkle [12 x 6 x 3] =216

Aayush Gupta
Nov 6, 2014

Starting similar to Yash,

a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = a 2 + a c + c 2 = 189 a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = a^2 + ac + c^2 = 189 .

Completing the square,

( a + c ) 2 a c = 189 (a+c)^2-ac = 189 .

Substituting equation 1,

( a + c ) 2 b 2 = 189 (a+c)^2-b^2 = 189 .

Using difference of squares,

( a + c + b ) ( a + c b ) = 189 (a+c+b)(a+c-b) = 189 .

Dividing by a + b + c = 21 a+b+c = 21 ,

a + c b = 9 a+c-b = 9 .

Adding this to a + b + c a+b+c and dividing by 2 yields a + c = 15 a+c = 15 , so b = 21 15 = 6 b = 21 - 15 = 6 . Since we want a b c = b 2 b = b 3 abc = b^2 * b = b^3 , our answer is 216 \boxed{216} .

Yours is a different approach.

Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 7 months ago
Alexandra Hewitt
Nov 6, 2014

I can't work out how to start a new line! But here's the clearest I can format it: ( a + b + c ) 2 = a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2 ( a b + b c + c a ) (a+b+c)^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}+2(ab+bc+ca) So 441 = 189 + 2 ( a b + b c + b 2 ) 441=189+2(ab+bc+b^{2}) So 252 = 2 b ( a + b + c ) 252=2b(a+b+c) So 126 = 21 b 126=21b So b + 6 b+6 So b 2 = 36 = a c b^{2}=36=ac So a b c = 6 x 36 = 216 abc=6x36=216

You can use \\ that will start a new line.

Niranjan Khanderia - 6 years, 7 months ago
Ra Ka
Nov 5, 2014

Thanx to you now i know what a Floor and Ceiling Functions means.. Good one though..

Hansraj Sharma
Oct 31, 2014

a=12 ,b=6 ,c=3 abc=216

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