3 + 3 3 − 3 3 × 3 3 ÷ 3 = 6 = 0 = 9 = 1
The above shows 4 equations, where the integer 3 together with 4 operations ( + − × ÷ ) produces 4 distinct numbers.
If we use some other integer greater than 3, will it still produce 4 distinct numbers?
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Doesn’t it fails for n = 1?
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The question asks for integers equal to or greater than 3.
For n ∈ N , we note that n − n = 0 and n ÷ n = 1 for all n . The two numbers are always distinct for all n . For n + n = n × n = n − n , ⟹ n = 0 < 3 . We note that n + n ≥ 2 = n ÷ n and that for n × n = n ÷ n , ⟹ n = 1 < 3 . And the last case is n + n = n × n , ⟹ n = 2 < 3 .
Yes, always for integer greater than 3, the four equations will produce four distinct numbers.
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The second and fourth equations will always be 0 and 1 and the second and fourth equations will be greater than 1 for n > 1 . So the only condition we need is n + n = n ∗ n ⟹ 2 n = n 2 ⟹ n = 2 . So for any n > 3 , four distinct integers will be produced on the right-hand side.