The smallest number

{ a + b + c = a b c a + b = c a = 2 b \large { \begin{cases} a+b+c= abc \\ a+b=c \\ a=2b \\ \end{cases} }

Let a , b a,b and c c be distinct positive integers satisfying the system of equations above. What is the value of a b c abc ?


The answer is 6.

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4 solutions

Kenny O.
May 21, 2016

Since a = 2 b , 3 b = c a = 2b, 3b=c and a + b + c = 6 b a+b+c=6b
6 b = 2 b × b × 3 b 6b=2b \times b \times 3b
= 6 b 3 =6b^3
b=1 for the equation to be true.
a = 2 b = 2 ( 1 ) = 2 a=2b=2(1)=2
c = 3 b = 3 ( 1 ) = 3 c=3b=3(1)=3
2 × 1 × 3 = 6 2\times1\times3=6


Did you need the fact that they are distinct?

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years ago

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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).

Kenny O. - 5 years ago

Nice question!+1

Rishabh Tiwari - 5 years ago
Shubham Khandhar
Jun 8, 2016

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

Skanda Prasad
Jun 3, 2016

Do we know that 1 1 , 2 2 and 3 3 are the only set of numbers that satisfy a + b + c = a b c a+b+c=abc ? 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 1 , 2 2 and 3 3 are the o n l y only c o n s e c u t i v e consecutive numbers to satisfy it...

Justin Malme
Jun 3, 2016

If a = 2 b a = 2b , then ( a + b = c ) ( 3 b = c ) (a+b=c) \rightarrow (3b=c) .
Then ( a + b + c = a b c ) ( 2 b + b + 3 b = a b c ) ( 6 b = a b c ) ( 6 = a c ) (a+b+c=abc) \rightarrow (2b+b+3b=abc) \rightarrow (6b=abc) \rightarrow (6=ac) .
Then ( 6 = a c ) ( 6 = ( 2 b ) ( 3 b ) ) ( 6 = 6 b 2 ) ( 1 = b 2 ) ( b = 1 ) (6=ac) \rightarrow (6=(2b)(3b)) \rightarrow (6=6b^2) \rightarrow (1=b^2) \rightarrow (b=1) .
Then ( a = 2 b ) ( a = 2 ) (a=2b) \rightarrow (a=2) .
Then ( c = 3 b ) ( c = 3 ) (c=3b) \rightarrow (c=3) .
Therefore, a b c = ( 2 ) ( 1 ) ( 3 ) = 6 abc=(2)(1)(3)=6 .


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