The sixth product (part 2)

Algebra Level pending

Suppose a , b , c a, b, c and d d are positive numbers. There are 6 possible products obtained by pairing them (namely a b , a c , a d , b c , b d ab, ac, ad, bc, bd , and c d cd ). The values of 5 products (in random order) are 2, 3, 4, 6, 9. How many different value(s) for the sixth product?

4 2 3 0 1

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1 solution

Chan Lye Lee
May 30, 2020

The six products are a b , a c , a d , b c , b d ab, ac, ad, bc, bd and c d cd . By pairing a b ab and c d cd , the product is a b c d abcd . Likewise for pairing a c ac and b d bd as well as a d ad and b c bc . From the 5 products 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 , there are two possibilities, namely: 2 × 9 = 3 × 6 = 18 2 \times 9 =3\times 6 =18 which suggests sixth product is 18 4 = 4.5 \frac{18}{4}=4.5 OR 2 × 6 = 3 × 4 = 12 2 \times 6 =3\times 4 =12 which suggests sixth product is 12 9 = 4 3 \frac{12}{9}=\frac{4}{3} . So, there are 2 \large \textcolor{#D61F06} 2 different values for the sixth product.

Suppose a b c d a \le b \le c \le d . There are four possible values for ( a , b , c , d ) (a,b,c,d) . There are: ( a , b , c , d ) = (a, b, c, d) = ( 6 2 , 2 6 3 , 6 , 3 6 2 ) , ( 2 3 3 , 3 , 3 3 2 , 2 3 ) , ( 2 2 3 , 2 , 3 2 2 , 3 2 ) , ( 6 3 , 2 6 3 , 6 , 3 6 2 ) \left( \frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}, \frac{2\sqrt{6}}{3}, \sqrt{6}, \frac{3\sqrt{6}}{2} \right) , \left( \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}, \sqrt{3}, \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}, 2\sqrt{3} \right) , \left( \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}, \sqrt{2}, \frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2},3\sqrt{2} \right) , \left( \frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}, \frac{2\sqrt{6}}{3}, \sqrt{6}, \frac{3\sqrt{6}}{2} \right) .

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