Let x , y and z be positive integers that satisfy
x y + y z + z = 1 0
What is the number of ordered solutions ( x , y , z ) to the equation above?
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Noted that x ≥ 1 and y ≥ 1
So
x y + y z + z ≥ 1 + z + z
2 z + 1 ≤ 1 0
z ≤ 4 . 5
z = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
Rewrite equation give us
y = x + z 1 0 − z
When z = 1 ,
y = x + 1 9 leads to two answers ( 2 , 3 , 1 ) , ( 8 , 1 , 1 ) .
When z = 2 ,
y = x + 2 8 leads to two answers ( 2 , 2 , 2 ) , ( 6 , 1 , 2 ) .
When z = 3 ,
y = x + 3 7 leads to the only answer ( 4 , 1 , 3 ) .
When z = 4 ,
y = x + 4 6 leads to the only answer ( 2 , 1 , 4 ) .
So, there are 6 solutions.
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First let us consider the ranges of y and z . Note that y is maximum when x = z = 1 , then y + y + 1 = 1 0 , ⟹ 1 ≤ y ≤ 4 . Similarly, z is maximum, when x = y = 1 and 1 + z + z = 1 0 , again 1 ≤ z ≤ 4 . Then we have:
x y + y z + z ⟹ x = 1 0 = y 1 0 − z − z
We note that x is an integer only when y 1 0 − z is an integer or y ∣ 1 0 − z . Therefore,
When y = 1 , possible z = ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ 1 2 3 4 and ⟹ x = ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ 8 6 4 2 and solutions: ⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ ( 8 , 1 , 1 ) ( 6 , 1 , 2 ) ( 4 , 1 , 3 ) ( 2 , 1 , 4 )
When y = 2 , possible z = { 2 4 and ⟹ x = { 2 − 1 and solution: ( 2 , 2 , 2 )
When y = 3 , possible z = { 1 4 and ⟹ x = { 2 − 2 and solution: ( 2 , 3 , 2 )
When y = 4 , possible z = 2 and ⟹ x = 0 ; there is no solution.
Therefore, there are 6 solutions.