⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ a + b + c = a b c a + b = c a = 2 b
Let a , b and c be distinct positive integers satisfying the system of equations above. What is the value of a b c ?
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Some people think that 0 is a positive integer. So they may give 0 as the answer (a=b=c=0).
Nice question!+1
Substituting a = 2b in a + b = c we get, c = 3b. Substituting a and c in a + b + c = abc we get, ac = 6. Now ac = 2b × 3b = 6b^2. Therefore comparing ac = 6 and ac = 6b^2 we get, b = 1 or -1. So the answer is abc = 6
Do we know that 1 , 2 and 3 are the only set of numbers that satisfy a + b + c = a b c ? If that is the case, then the rest of the data can be ignored. I think so...but not sure. But all we know, is that 1 , 2 and 3 are the o n l y c o n s e c u t i v e numbers to satisfy it...
If
a
=
2
b
, then
(
a
+
b
=
c
)
→
(
3
b
=
c
)
.
Then
(
a
+
b
+
c
=
a
b
c
)
→
(
2
b
+
b
+
3
b
=
a
b
c
)
→
(
6
b
=
a
b
c
)
→
(
6
=
a
c
)
.
Then
(
6
=
a
c
)
→
(
6
=
(
2
b
)
(
3
b
)
)
→
(
6
=
6
b
2
)
→
(
1
=
b
2
)
→
(
b
=
1
)
.
Then
(
a
=
2
b
)
→
(
a
=
2
)
.
Then
(
c
=
3
b
)
→
(
c
=
3
)
.
Therefore,
a
b
c
=
(
2
)
(
1
)
(
3
)
=
6
.
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Since a = 2 b , 3 b = c and a + b + c = 6 b
6 b = 2 b × b × 3 b
= 6 b 3
b=1 for the equation to be true.
a = 2 b = 2 ( 1 ) = 2
c = 3 b = 3 ( 1 ) = 3
2 × 1 × 3 = 6