Tricky system

Algebra Level 5

Let a a , b b and c c be positive real numbers that satisfy the following equations: a 2 + b 2 + 3 a b = 727 a^2+b^2+\sqrt{3}ab=727 a 2 + c 2 + 3 a c = 829 a^2+c^2+\sqrt{3}ac=829 b 2 + c 2 b c = 39 b^2+c^2-bc=39 If a + b + c = d + f 3 a+b+c=d+f \sqrt{3} , find d f df .


The answer is 156.

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2 solutions

Let's rewrite the equations:

a 2 + b 2 2 a b cos 150 ° = 727 a^2+b^2-2ab \cos 150°=727

a 2 + c 2 2 a c cos 150 ° = 829 a^2+c^2-2ac \cos 150°=829

b 2 + c 2 2 b c cos 60 ° = 39 b^2+c^2-2bc \cos 60°=39

Clearly, by Law of Cosines, we can form three triangles, but also, since the three angles add up to 360 ° 360° we can form a big triangle A B C \triangle ABC with an interior point P P such that A P B = 150 ° \angle APB=150° , A P C = 150 ° \angle APC=150° , B P C = 60 ° \angle BPC=60° , P A = a PA=a , P B = b PB=b and P C = c PC=c . We know that A B = 727 AB=\sqrt{727} , A C = 829 AC=\sqrt{829} and B C = 39 BC=\sqrt{39} . Using Heron's formula, we find the area of A B C \triangle ABC :

[ A B C ] = 191 3 4 [ABC]=\dfrac{191\sqrt{3}}{4}

Also, the area of A B C \triangle ABC can be calculated adding the areas of A P B \triangle APB , A P C \triangle APC and B P C \triangle BPC :

[ A B C ] = a b sin 150 ° 2 + a c sin 150 ° 2 + b c sin 60 ° 2 = a b + a c + 3 b c 4 [ABC]=\dfrac{ab \sin 150°}{2}+\dfrac{ac \sin 150°}{2}+\dfrac{bc \sin 60°}{2}=\dfrac{ab+ac+\sqrt{3}bc}{4}

Hence, a b + a c + 3 b c = 191 3 ab+ac+\sqrt{3}bc=191\sqrt{3} .

Now, multiply the third equation by 3 -3 :

3 b 2 3 c 2 + 3 b c = 117 -3b^2-3c^2+3bc=-117

Sum it with the other two:

2 ( a 2 b 2 c 2 ) + 3 ( a b + a c + 3 b c ) = 1439 2(a^2-b^2-c^2)+\sqrt{3}(ab+ac+\sqrt{3}bc)=1439

And replace the fourth equation:

2 ( a 2 b 2 c 2 ) + 3 ( 191 3 ) = 1439 a 2 b 2 c 2 = 433 2(a^2-b^2-c^2)+\sqrt{3}(191\sqrt{3})=1439 \Longrightarrow a^2-b^2-c^2=433

Next, sum the third equation with the fifth equation:

a 2 b c = 433 + 39 a 2 = b c + 472 a^2-bc=433+39 \Longrightarrow a^2=bc+472

Replace it to the first and second equation:

b 2 + b c + 3 a b + 472 = 727 b^2+bc+\sqrt{3}ab+472=727

c 2 + b c + 3 a c + 472 = 829 c^2+bc+\sqrt{3}ac+472=829

Sum and subtract them to obtain, respectively:

( b + c ) ( 3 a + b + c ) = 612 (b+c)(\sqrt{3}a+b+c)=612

( b c ) ( 3 a + b + c ) = 102 (b-c)(\sqrt{3}a+b+c)=-102

Divide them:

b + c b c = 612 102 c = 7 b 5 \dfrac{b+c}{b-c}=\dfrac{612}{-102} \Longrightarrow c=\dfrac{7b}{5}

Substitute it in the fifth equation and in the sixth equation:

a 2 b 2 49 b 2 25 = 433 a^2-b^2-\dfrac{49b^2}{25}=433

a 2 7 b 2 5 = 472 a^2-\dfrac{7b^2}{5}=472

Subtract them:

39 b 2 25 = 39 b = 5 \dfrac{39b^2}{25}=39 \Longrightarrow b=5

Obtain c c :

c = 7 ( 5 ) 5 = 7 c=\dfrac{7(5)}{5}=7

And obtain a a :

a 2 = ( 5 ) ( 7 ) + 472 a = 13 3 a^2=(5)(7)+472 \Longrightarrow a=13\sqrt{3}

Hence, a + b + c = 12 + 13 3 a+b+c=12+13\sqrt{3} , d = 12 d=12 , f = 13 f=13 and d f = 156 df=\boxed{156} .

This problem is amazing! It reminded me of my teacher who taught me a similar problem last summer. Keep up the good work! I love solving your problems. They're fun and they remind me of my past (Let's call it reminiscent) :D

Sean Ty - 6 years, 10 months ago

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Thank you very much, I'm glad you like my problems, now that I am back to school I will be posting more. Gracias :D :D

Alan Enrique Ontiveros Salazar - 6 years, 10 months ago

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Of course, and people would love your problems because they have to think outside the box. Similar to an Olympiad :D

Sean Ty - 6 years, 10 months ago

LOL!!! i used a bit of hit and trial in the last equation and got the values of b and c as 5 and 7 respectively...Just a bit of algebra...and tada!!!! d=12, f=13...df=156

A Former Brilliant Member - 6 years, 10 months ago

It is really tricky. :)

Gil Deon Basa - 6 years, 9 months ago

Since a,b,c represents sides,then why not c=√727,a=√39?

Sachin Arora - 6 years, 5 months ago

I think this problem is not easy at all... Why is it Level 3?

PS. Marvelous Problem (and solution)!!!

Felipe Hofmann - 6 years, 10 months ago
Sung Moo Hong
Dec 19, 2014

at least a or b or c is p 3 p*\sqrt{3} from following equation,

we can know a = p × 3 a=p \times \sqrt{3} and b,c are natural number ---- (I) or

b = p × 3 b=p \times \sqrt{3} , c = q × 3 c=q \times \sqrt{3} , and a is natural number.-----(II)

and b c b \leq c . (they can not be a rational number.)

I) From third equation

( c b ) 2 = 39 c b (c-b)^2 = 39 - cb

( c b ) 2 { 1 , 4 , 9 , 25 , 36 } (c-b)^2 \in \{ 1, 4, 9, 25, 36 \}

( b , c ) { ( 2 , 7 ) , ( 5 , 7 ) } (b,c) \in \{ (2,7) , (5,7) \} can satisfy third equation.

(2,7) -> Number 'a' can't be p × 3 p \times \sqrt{3} form.

(5,7) -> a = 13 3 a = 13\sqrt{3}

II) p,q are integer number because of third equation. so

( b , c ) ( 3 3 , 4 3 ) , ( 3 , 4 3 ) (b,c) \in { (3\sqrt{3},4\sqrt{3}) , (\sqrt{3}, 4\sqrt{3}) } can satisfy third equation.

but these case can't make 'a' natural number.

so a = 13 3 , b = 5 , c = 7 a=13\sqrt{3} , b = 5, c=7

a + b + c = 12 + 13 3 = d + f 3 a+b+c = 12 + 13\sqrt{3} = d + f\sqrt{3}

d × f = 156 d \times f = 156

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