That's hard...maybe

Algebra Level 3

The equation x 3 3 x 2 3 x 1 = 0 x^3-3x^2-3x-1=0 has exactly one real solution that can be written in the form a 3 + b 3 + c 3 . \sqrt[3]{a}+\sqrt[3]{b}+\sqrt[3]{c}.

What is the value of a + b + c ? a+b+c?


The answer is 7.

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3 solutions

Drop TheProblem
Dec 27, 2014

x 3 3 x 2 3 x 1 = 0 x 3 = 3 x 2 + 3 x + 1 2 x 3 = x 3 + 3 x 2 + 3 x + 1 2 x 3 = ( x + 1 ) 3 2 3 x = x + 1 ( 2 3 1 ) x = 1 x = 1 2 3 1 x = 1 2 3 1 4 3 + 2 3 + 1 3 4 3 + 2 3 + 1 3 = 4 3 + 2 3 + 1 3 a + b + c = 7 x^3-3x^2-3x-1=0\\ x^3=3x^2+3x+1\\ 2x^3=x^3+3x^2+3x+1\\ 2x^3=(x+1)^3\\ \sqrt[3]{2}x=x+1\\ (\sqrt[3]{2}-1)x=1\\ x=\frac{1}{\sqrt[3]{2}-1} \quad \Rightarrow \quad x=\frac{1}{\sqrt[3]{2}-1}\cdot\frac{\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{1}}{\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{1}}=\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{1}\\ a+b+c=7

how did you think to multiply and divide the expression in the last step , that's great

U Z - 6 years, 5 months ago

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In the unlikely event that you still find this relevant or novel, seems he just used ( x 3 y 3 ) = ( x y ) ( x 2 + x y + y 2 ) (x^3-y^3)=(x-y)(x^2+xy+y^2) for ( x , y ) = ( 2 3 , 1 3 ) (x,y) = (\sqrt[3]{2},\sqrt[3]{1})

Ulrich Rennpferd - 2 years ago

( a b ) ( a 2 + a b + b 2 ) = a 3 b 3 where a = 2 3 and b = 1 (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)=a^3-b^3 \text{ where } a=\sqrt[3]{2} \text{ and }b=1

Aradhya Kasera - 1 year, 11 months ago

Technique in aops vol 1

Bob Marley - 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Let's use the method of Cardano:

Make the substitution x = y + 1 x=y+1 in order to delete the quadratic coefficient:

( y + 1 ) 3 3 ( y + 1 ) 2 3 ( y + 1 ) 1 = 0 y 3 6 y 6 = 0 (y+1)^3-3(y+1)^2-3(y+1)-1=0 \Longrightarrow y^3-6y-6=0

Now, compare the coefficients of the equation in y y with the identity ( a + b ) 3 3 a b ( a + b ) ( a 3 + b 3 ) = 0 (a+b)^3-3ab(a+b)-(a^3+b^3)=0 . An equation system will be formed:

y = a + b y=a+b

3 a b = 6 3ab=6

a 3 + b 3 = 6 a^3+b^3=6

Simplify the second equation and cube both sides: ( a b ) 3 = 8 (ab)^3=8

With ( a b ) 3 = 8 (ab)^3=8 and a 3 + b 3 = 6 a^3+b^3=6 we are motivated to find an equation with roots a 3 a^3 and b 3 b^3 because of Vieta's formulas. Let's make a equation in z z : ( z a 3 ) ( z b 3 ) = 0 z 2 ( a 3 + b 3 ) z + ( a b ) 3 = 0 z 2 6 z + 8 = 0 (z-a^3)(z-b^3)=0 \Longrightarrow z^2-(a^3+b^3)z+(ab)^3=0 \Longrightarrow z^2-6z+8=0 That is factored eeasily as ( z 2 ) ( z 4 ) = 0 (z-2)(z-4)=0 . Hence, a 3 = 2 a^3=2 and b 3 = 4 b^3=4 .

So, a = 2 3 a=\sqrt[3]{2} and b = 4 3 b=\sqrt[3]{4} taking the real values.

Finally, y = 2 3 + 4 3 y=\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{4} and x = 2 3 + 4 3 + 1 x=\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{4}+1 .

x = 2 3 + 4 3 + 1 3 x=\sqrt[3]{2}+\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[3]{1}

The final answer is 2 + 4 + 1 = 7 2+4+1=\boxed{7} .

Great work, chap!! :)

Neeraj Snappy - 6 years, 5 months ago
汶良 林
Apr 28, 2015

a, b, c ∈ Z

What this answer is saying that this question makes the assumption that a, b and c must be integers, otherwise you can choose any values for a, and b, and then determine c, which would often give a different value of a+b+c. It perhaps should have been put as "report a problem"

Mike Pannekoek - 1 year ago

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