1995 British Mathematics Olympiad problem

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  • Опубліковано 21 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 324

  • @michaelkotthaus7120
    @michaelkotthaus7120 3 місяці тому +174

    Thank you for this great episode. This problem is really awesome! And I tell you why. Being also interested in music theory and tuning systems, I found a strong relation to this domain.
    Translated into the language of music, this equation asks: How can I divide an octave (which is the frequency ratio of 2 to 1) into three simple intervals where the nominator is one more than the denominator. In just intonation, such intervals are: octave = 2/1, fifth = 3/2, fourth = 4/3, major third = 5/4, minor third = 6/5, major second = 9/8 or 10/9, minor second = 16/15 or 17/16.
    For example, the solution a=4, b=5 and c=3 leads to the factors 5/4, 6/5 and 4/3, which are a major third, a minor third and a fourth. If I start at C3, the following notes are E3, G3 and C4. This is a major chord. Great.
    Another example, the solution a=2, b=4 and c=15 maps to the intervals of a fifth, a major third and a minor second. Starting at C3 the following notes are G3, B3 and C4.
    For me, there is a heavenly connection between mathematics and music.

    • @PrimeNewtons
      @PrimeNewtons  3 місяці тому +26

      I love this!

    • @toveirenestrand3547
      @toveirenestrand3547 3 місяці тому +13

      Thank you for this comment! I love the connection between STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and music.

    • @gustavoheras557
      @gustavoheras557 2 місяці тому

      Why can't a be 1 ?

    • @justcommentator
      @justcommentator 2 місяці тому

      This is futile. If you start to calculate intervals like that, you´ll never finish one single piece of music.

    • @Ranoake
      @Ranoake 2 місяці тому

      @@gustavoheras557 Because that would cause the first term to be 2 and so the other terms would have to be 1 total, and the only way to do that is if b and c were infinity, which is not a real number.

  • @quack8550
    @quack8550 3 місяці тому +322

    "I don't want to write it", proceed to write out more than previously needed.

    • @sh0gun570
      @sh0gun570 3 місяці тому +5

      absolute god i love the videos

    • @4m0d
      @4m0d 3 місяці тому +15

      ''I am gonna write it 😈''

    • @jamesnewcomer5963
      @jamesnewcomer5963 3 місяці тому +2

      There was absolutely no reason to write out all the permutations...

    • @ИринаРзаева-ф2с
      @ИринаРзаева-ф2с 3 місяці тому

      А и Б - точные или натуральные единицы, а С - это кислота от кислорода и снова хим реакция и 9.Надеюсь , понял как мои отстающие одноклассники, а меня ругали, что издеваюсь над преподом. Мне нужно обдумать, что сказал этот из Бауманки.

    • @cykkm
      @cykkm 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@jamesnewcomer5963 “… no reason to write out all the permutations” - If you're returning a solution to the Olympiad problem, you should: you won't get the full score otherwise because it would look like you had forgotten your WLOG assumption. You may try writing in words next to the solution that any permutation is also a solution, but IRL I wouldn't take the risk.

  • @jlmassir
    @jlmassir 3 місяці тому +116

    I like very much the way you teach. You experiment with possibilities, instead of being smarty and immediately presenting the solution. In this way, the student feels like participating in the solution instead of passively watching it. You're a great tracher.

    • @Paddy-ip7qk
      @Paddy-ip7qk 2 місяці тому +2

      De acuerdo con el comentario. Es odioso leer a tantos otros que al parecer preferirían videos sobre problemas con este grado de dificultad siendo resueltos en dos minutos y usando solo la mitad de la pizarra, como si se tratara de un concurso. Dejen a los matemáticos hacer verdadera matemática, por favor.

  • @syamantagogoi
    @syamantagogoi 3 місяці тому +57

    Awesome reasoning towards getting these solutions.Very much captivating... please continue discussion of such problems.

  • @salloom1949
    @salloom1949 3 місяці тому +39

    Great analysis and solution. I have to admit that I viewed this video three time to thoroughly understand your solution. Thank you!!

    • @RichardDurn1818
      @RichardDurn1818 2 місяці тому

      It's faster to ask an AI for Python code. Lol

  • @borisjaulmes5773
    @borisjaulmes5773 3 місяці тому +19

    Never stop learning. I'm 34, out of school since a while, and I loved this video.
    Thank you ❤

    • @cykkm
      @cykkm 3 місяці тому

      I'm 56.

    • @Isaac-Playlists
      @Isaac-Playlists 2 місяці тому

      @@cykkm I am 67 and a mathematician by education since 1981 (but never worked as a mathematician) . I found it eyes opening. Thought provoking task and a great teacher. Thank you very much, Teacher!

  • @TheBoeingCompany-h9z
    @TheBoeingCompany-h9z 3 місяці тому +93

    (1+1/3)(1+1/4)(1+1/5) is just beautiful

    • @londonalicante
      @londonalicante 2 місяці тому +14

      4/3 x 5/4 x 6/5. The frequency ratios between pairs of notes in the sequence G C E G (C major with an extra G in the bass.)
      The major chord has the frequency ratio 4:5:6 (or 20:25:30) The minor chord has the frequency ratio 1/6:1/5:1/4 (or 20:24:30)
      (this is based on pure mathematical, "just" chords. To be able to play in all keys without retuning, modern fixed-pitch instruments are tuned in equal temperament, which means all semitones are exactly 2^(1/12) so 4:6 is very well approximated by 2^(7/12) and 4:5 is rather crudely approximated by 2^(4/12)=2^(1/3)

    • @OLAFBONDD
      @OLAFBONDD 2 місяці тому +1

      (1+1/1)...(1+1/5)=6 :)

    • @Larsbutb4d
      @Larsbutb4d 2 місяці тому

      ​@@londonalicante
      i js realized the answer is two
      (6x4x5)/(3x4x5) cancel 4x5
      =6/3
      =2

  • @MaximusU76
    @MaximusU76 3 місяці тому +10

    One of the finest math explanation I've ever seen on UA-cam. Excelent job. Man you are a real Teacher.

  • @nishan375
    @nishan375 3 місяці тому +23

    Your presentation and demeanor is just co calming and engaging. Love from Sri Lanka.

  • @lindor941
    @lindor941 3 місяці тому +16

    You are a great teacher and i love your enthusiasm!
    Here's how i did it:
    If you set a=b=c=x and solve, you get smth around x=3.8.
    To balance it, if you make one number larger, you have to make another smaller.
    One can use this principle to get upper bounds for the smallest of the numbers.
    Here it means that all solutions must contain at least one 1, 2 or 3.
    It can't contain a 1 since that's already 2 for one factor.
    And it can't be (2, 2) or (2, 3) (or (3, 2), to make that clear) for two factors since that's already larger than 2.
    So now we have lower bounds restrictions for b depending on a.
    If you set a=2 and b=c=x, you get smth around x=6.5.
    Repeating the balancing principle and using the restrictions we figured out, you can now set b∈{4,5,6} and solve for c for each case.
    You get the solutions:
    (2, 4, 15), (2, 5, 9), (2, 6, 7).
    Now to set a=3 and b=c=x, you get smth around x=4.4.
    Using the balancing principle and restrictions again, we can set b∈{3,4} and get the solutions
    (3, 3, 8), (3, 4, 5)
    So we have five distinct sets of natural numbers as solutions and we know all other solutions are permutations of those.
    Figuring out the permutations is kinda trivial.

    • @lukamiler5824
      @lukamiler5824 2 місяці тому

      I was going through it a few times confused about how could you possibly just not write out the balancing description.
      And then I realized you just counted down to A.
      Nice proof :D

  • @dougaugustine4075
    @dougaugustine4075 3 місяці тому +6

    That was a fun one. I'm trying to take your advice and to never stop learning so that I don't die.

  • @pjmoran42
    @pjmoran42 29 днів тому

    Fantastic presentation: the mystery, excitement, and guidance are motivational and entertaining.

  • @jonathanburros6762
    @jonathanburros6762 3 місяці тому +4

    Equivalent to
    1 +a+b+c+ a b+a c +b c - a b c = 0
    Let a=p,b=p+1,c = p+2
    Substitute and by some algebra
    6+ 9p +3 p^2 -p(p^2 +3 p+2) = 0
    3(p^2 + 3p +2)-p(p^2 +3p +2) = 0
    (3-p)(p +1)(p +2) = 0
    For natural number solutions p must be positive.
    p = 3
    Then
    a = 3,b= 4,c = 5
    There are five more permutations of a,b,c

    • @l_a_h797
      @l_a_h797 2 місяці тому +1

      Good, but that only gives you cases where a, b, c are consecutive. What about the others?

    • @KermitCyrus
      @KermitCyrus Місяць тому

      Multiplying by abc => (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = 2abc. (Note that a, b, & c can't all be even, and if a = b = c /in R, then a ~= 4 as 5^3 = 125 ~= 128 = 2*4^3. So we're looking for small whole numbers whose product, abc, is somewhat near 64, e.g. a=b=c=~4 and a4, assuming a

  • @Hussain-px3fc
    @Hussain-px3fc 3 місяці тому +6

    Love these type of questions and how you explain them

  • @plazma5343
    @plazma5343 21 день тому

    Im sure you have been told, but your voice, rythm and handwriting make for a highly enjoyable and almost relaxing video :)
    Thank you. Subed

  • @patomatma
    @patomatma 2 місяці тому +6

    The most charismatic teacher that I have ever seen.

  • @paulpedersen2713
    @paulpedersen2713 3 місяці тому +2

    Hey. Very entertaining problem. Thx! I suggest a quick path: consider [(a+1)/a] ⋅ [(b+1)/b] ⋅ [(c+1)/c], and then use an _ansatz_ where the denominator of the middle term cancels the numerators of the first and third terms (something like that is bound to happen). So try b = (a+1)(c+1), then the problem is to find a, c such that (a+1)(c+1)+1 = 2ac, (i.e.) ac + a + c + 2 = 2ac, or ac - (a + c) = 2. Can we find two positive integers where the product equals the sum plus 2. Sure. Small cases gives you a = 2, c = 4 immediately, and b = 15. We get: (1+1/2)(1+1/15)(1+1/4) = (3/2)(16/15)(5/4) = 16/8 = 2.

  • @oli111222
    @oli111222 3 місяці тому +1

    i love your videos and the high quality explenations! Keep up the good work 😊🎉

  • @xJetbrains
    @xJetbrains Місяць тому +5

    The problem becomes much easier when you check that 1.25 ^ 3 < 2, which means one of the numbers must be 2 or 3.

    • @tobinpayne3276
      @tobinpayne3276 15 днів тому

      First thing I saw when I tried this problem. Try Q3 from this paper (BMO2 1995): it’s not easy but if you know stuff about roots of equations and basic calculus it’s wonderful.

  • @ClarkPotter
    @ClarkPotter 3 місяці тому +9

    Your handwriting is so good!

  • @dannybarrs
    @dannybarrs 3 місяці тому

    Excellent. Well done, well presented and just about the right pace to maintain interest.

  • @someperson188
    @someperson188 3 місяці тому +1

    @3:37: cubr(2) is irrational and 1+1/a is rational. Further, eliminating the case
    "a = b = c" is actually not necessary.
    @4:57: As the denominator of a fraction with a "positive" numerator gets bigger and
    stays the same sign, the fraction gets smaller.
    @8:43: A correct argument is: cubr(2) > 1.25, since (1.25)^3 = 1.953125. Therefore,
    a = b - 3 >= a - 3 = -1.
    Hence, if c - 3 and b - 3 are negative, they both must be -1, which doesn't work.
    @19:02: 6 could have two negative integer factors. But c - 2 >= b - 2 >= a - 2 = 1.

  • @زكريا_حسناوي
    @زكريا_حسناوي 3 місяці тому +2

    معالجة مفصلة للمسألة، شكرا على مجهودك

  • @victorpetrenko2736
    @victorpetrenko2736 3 місяці тому +2

    Thank you. Interesting problem for logical thinking. Engaging and even entertaining. Well done!

  • @charlziedouglas-mo7uc
    @charlziedouglas-mo7uc 3 місяці тому +53

    Now I want to see the calculus version 😁

    • @alauddinalam1854
      @alauddinalam1854 3 місяці тому

      Me too

    • @mr.nicolas4367
      @mr.nicolas4367 25 днів тому

      Calculs operates with real numbers in which case there are infinite solutions

  • @alohamark3025
    @alohamark3025 3 місяці тому

    Great presentation, coach. It gives me hope that the young people who compete in the Math Olympiad will save the planet.

    • @stuartmatthews9108
      @stuartmatthews9108 3 місяці тому +1

      Or all go to work at hedge funds and make things worse

  • @arungosavi5698
    @arungosavi5698 3 місяці тому

    Aparantly simple looking problem becomes quite complex.your logic assumptions leads to great solution.explained so nicely that I understood every thing.Great teaching art.

  • @christopherphelps2326
    @christopherphelps2326 3 місяці тому

    I really enjoyed the organized and clear explanation of this problem! Broadening the solution space to all integers, notice that two or three of a, b, and c cannot be negative. Otherwise, if all three of them were negative, we'd have a product of three zero or positive fractions each less than 1, which could not multiply to 2, and if two of them were negative, 1 + 1/a would have to equal or be greater than 8, also impossible. Nevertheless, without loss of generality, we could modify the assumption of a being smallest to a being less than or equal to the other positive integer b, retaining 1 + 1/a as the largest factor in the product, leading to the same bound on a. Then, with the same technique, not including permutations, we can find three new solutions: (a, b, c) = (1, 2, -3), (2, 2, -9), and (1, 3, -4).

  • @slavinojunepri7648
    @slavinojunepri7648 3 місяці тому +1

    Great teaching skills and fantastic solution.

  • @EneldoSancocho
    @EneldoSancocho 3 місяці тому +2

    There's a great tool related to this kind of problems.
    Whenever a_n is a sequence of real numbers, we consider Sn to be the sum of the terms of the sequence to the n'th power, for example S2=a_0^2+a_1^2...
    We consider Pn to be a product that generalizes this: P2= a_0*a_1+a_0*a_2.... +a_1*a_2....
    Pn is the sum of the different products of n different terms of the sequence.
    Finally we have this relation:
    n*Pn=Σ(-1)^(k+1)*P(n-k)*Sk for k between 1 and n, where P0=1

    • @EneldoSancocho
      @EneldoSancocho 3 місяці тому +1

      Also, Pn is proportional to the n'th derivative of the polynomial c*(1-x/a_0)*(1-x/a_1)...
      Which sometimes lets you find infinte sums of powers, if you know the derivatives of the function in question

    • @EneldoSancocho
      @EneldoSancocho 3 місяці тому +1

      Pd. You can prove that Σ 1/k^3 = pi^3/32 for k= 1,-3,5,-7,9.... ( if i remember correctly) using this tool, although to be rigorous you would use something like the Weierstrass factoring theorem for the function cos(pi*(1-x)/4)

  • @pojuantsalo3475
    @pojuantsalo3475 3 місяці тому +13

    My first try to solve this was to multiply both side by abc: (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = 2abc, but this didn't lead nicely to anywhere. Then I did exactly the same thing that was done in this video to solve for the possible values of a = 2 or 3 (given a ≤ b ≤ c). This gives
    (1+1/b)(1+1/c) = 4/3 when a = 2
    (1+1/b)(1+1/c) = 3/2 when a = 3
    From there my solution was different from this video. I solved the equations above as mini versions of the original problem: Since b ≤ c, (1+1/b) ≥ √k, where k = 4/3 when a = 2 and k = 3/2 when a = 3. This gives the possible values for b and the corresponding values of c are calculated from b:
    c = 3*(b+1)/(b-3) when a = 2, b = 4, 5, 6
    c = 2*(b+1)/(b-2) when a = 3, b = 3, 4
    This gives the solutions when a ≤ b ≤ c. All the solutions are all the permutations.

    • @DrDeuteron
      @DrDeuteron 3 місяці тому

      So what’s the answer?

    • @nanamacapagal8342
      @nanamacapagal8342 3 місяці тому +1

      What I did is similar to what you did, but instead of solving for c afterwards, I already had the ranges of b ready and just tried them all out.
      So I still had (1 + 1/b)(1 + 1/c) = 4/3 if a = 2 and 3/2 if a = 3
      I checked and if a = 2 then b = 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. If a = 3 then b = 3 or 4
      Then I just tried every setting of a and b available and solved for c instead of coming up with a general form of c
      So the solutions are:
      (2, 4, 15)
      (2, 5, 9)
      (2, 6, 7)
      (3, 3, 8)
      (3, 4, 5)

    • @pojuantsalo3475
      @pojuantsalo3475 3 місяці тому

      ​@@DrDeuteron
      (2, 4, 15)
      (2, 5, 9)
      (2, 6, 7)
      (3, 3, 8)
      (3, 4, 5)
      (4, 2, 15)
      (5, 2, 9)
      (6, 2, 7)
      (4, 3, 5)
      (15, 4, 2)
      (9, 5, 2)
      (7, 6, 1)
      (8, 3, 3)
      (5, 4, 3)
      (2, 15, 4)
      (2, 9, 5)
      (2, 7, 6)
      (3, 8, 3)
      (3, 5, 4)
      (15, 2, 4)
      (9, 2, 5)
      (7, 2, 6)
      (5, 3, 4)
      (4, 15, 2)
      (5, 9, 2)
      (6, 7, 1)
      (4, 5, 3)

    • @Paddy-ip7qk
      @Paddy-ip7qk 2 місяці тому

      ​@@DrDeuteronThere are 27 answers.

    • @Jarlaxe111
      @Jarlaxe111 Місяць тому

      I did the same thing and it actually led to the solutions quite nicely. Because you realize that (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = 2*a*b*c means that adding one to the numbers just introduces another 2 in prime factorization. So at least one of the numbers must be uneven (or else the left side of the equation is uneven), and obv. none of the numbers can be 1. Checking for a = 3 gives 2*(b+1)*(c+1) = 3*b*c. It is again easy to see that neither b nor c can be equal to two. Checking b = 3 gives c = 8 and b = 4 gives c = 5. It remains to prove that there are no further solutions however

  • @savonliquide7677
    @savonliquide7677 Місяць тому

    Hello I did not know your Chanel man you have such a great charisma and your explanations are so smooth and didactic, I wish I could speak like this without any stop or cuts congratulation!!! I have a nice geometric interpretation of this, feel free to present it in your lovely style in a video : let's change the inputs by (x,y,z)=(a-1,b-1,c-1). We get after some little basic operations xyz=2(x+y+z)+6. If we have a prism that sides are x,y,z the left member of the equality is the volume while we see that the write member can unbed in the union f six little cubes plus the union of two triplet of sides, each intersecting in say two opposites vertices (each one on the extremity of the big diagonal) these two triplets do not intersect each other but each edge in a triplet is intersecting another in one little 1x1 cube, so the cardinality of the cube in each triplet is sum of each side minus 2. We have also six more edges and IF we have enough place to put one cube on it plus the 2+2 extras cube that we discussed, we can be sure that 2(x+y+z)+6 will always be smaller than the total volume. That mean we just have to consider the very few cases that you did!

  • @francescomacheda3721
    @francescomacheda3721 Місяць тому

    Other solution: (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)=2abc. For decomposition, it needs to be for example {(a+1)=b,(b+1)=c,(c+1)=2a} this set of equations leads to a=3 b=4 c=5. There's some other way to factorize, which gives negative or non integer results. The other factorization which gives result is a=b and {(a+1)^2=c,c+1=2a^2}, which leads to a=b=3,c=8.

  • @CharlesAbernathy-u6r
    @CharlesAbernathy-u6r 3 місяці тому

    We are waiting for your full course on calculus. The Lenard online courses come to mind. Viewing his calculus lessons could explain what we need. Understanding what you are doing is more important than just being able to perform an operation. People only remember so much. Knowing how to get to solutions solves the memory problem. We are talking about starting with the fundamental theorem of calculus and moving through multivariable calculus. Perhaps I should speak for myself. I could greatly benefit from a review of the basics and learning all the rest of calculus. Thank you for your assistance.

    • @cykkm
      @cykkm 3 місяці тому

      Have you looked at the "Essence of Calculus" playlist by 3blue1brown?

  • @brandonk9299
    @brandonk9299 3 місяці тому +1

    I agree that this is a very interesting problem. While I enjoyed your presentation, it nagged at me that there must be a more number theoretic solution. This is what I found.
    (1+1/a)(1+1/b)(1+1/c) = (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)/abc = 2
    We know that for c>1, it does not divide c+1. So we can safely assume that a, b and c divide the alternate terms. So that:
    (a+1)(b+1) = ck; (a+1)(c+1) = bm; and (b+1)(c+1) = an.
    It can be a little difficult to see at first. In the first equation, we know that c doesn't divide c+1 but the factors of c must divide a+1 and/or b+1. The 'k' represents the amount left over.
    Multiplying: [(a+1)(b+1)(c+1)]^2 = abc * kmn.
    Since we know [(a+1)(b+1)(c+1)]/abc = 2, if we divide both sides by (abc)^2
    kmn/abc= [2]^2=4 so kmn = 4abc
    Interesting, but how does that help us? Looking back at the equations in , we can find the ratios
    (a+1)(b+1)/(a+1)(c+1) = ck/bm = (b+1)/(c+1) so kc(c+1) = mb(b+1) and similarly,
    kc(c+1) = na(a+1) and mb(b+1) = na(a+1) This implies
    t = kc(c+1) = na(a+1) = mb(b+1) All the values are related. Can we find t? What if we multiply?
    t^3= kmn*abc*(a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = [kmn/abc] * (abc)^3 * [(a+1)(b+1)(c+1)/abc] and substitute '2' using and then
    t^3 = 4 * (abc)^3 * 2 = 8 * (abc)^3 = (2abc)^3 so that t = 2abc
    Now we are very close since can look at the relations in
    na(a+1) = t = 2abc so n(a+1) = 2bc = na + n and from
    n + an = n + (b+1)(c+1) = n + bc + b + c + 1 = 2bc so n = bc - b - c - 1 But how do we use n? Going back to
    an(a+1)/abc = 2 changes to a = 2bc/n - 1 = 2bc/(bc - b - c - 1) -1 since a>0. Further this rotates for all the terms so
    b = 2ac/(ac - a - c - 1) -1 and c = 2ab/(ab - a - b - 1) -1
    This now defines all the solution sets. We can test it using a known solution (3,4,5) = (a, b, c)
    a =3 so b = 2*3*5/(3*5-3-5-1) - 1 = 30/(15-9) - 1 = 5-1 =4 and c= 2*3*4/(3*4-3-4-1)-1 = 24/(12-8) - 1 = 6 - 1 =5
    For a = 1, the values are negative but still works. (1, b, -b-1) => 2*(b+1)/b*[-b/-(b+1)] = 2
    For a = 2, b = 4c/(2c-2-c-1)-1 = 4c/(c-3) -1 here c=5 or 7 gives b = 9 and 6 3/2*6/5*10/9 = 2 and 3/2*8/7*7/6 = 2
    This doesn't guarantee that every number 'a' has a solution.
    a=13 b = 26c/(13c-13-c-1) - 1 = 26c/(12c-12)-1 there is no value for c that would make this work. Every solution set should satisfy .

  • @brownmold
    @brownmold 15 днів тому

    I do not understand why writing out the permutations is needed. Multiplication is communicative, and said a

  • @giovannilorenzi8104
    @giovannilorenzi8104 26 днів тому

    Pure joy hearing you... it all sounds easy

  • @chrisl.9750
    @chrisl.9750 3 місяці тому

    Came here to learn calculus. Fell asleep peacefully instead. Thank you!

  • @krishnanadityan2017
    @krishnanadityan2017 3 місяці тому +1

    Brilliant.
    No words to describe..

  • @renforna
    @renforna 3 місяці тому +1

    Beautiful problem and beautiful solution!

  • @herbertsusmann986
    @herbertsusmann986 3 місяці тому

    You sir are a genius. This is quite an unusual problem indeed!

  • @paulsander4930
    @paulsander4930 11 днів тому

    Multiplying with abc gives (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)=2abc, which is also very interesting. Now the question is "Name a product of three numbers which is doubled if the numbers are increased by 1."

  • @uwanttono4012
    @uwanttono4012 3 місяці тому

    AWESOME SH*T!! I just LOVE your teaching style. I learn something new EVERY time!!

  • @ronginzler6600
    @ronginzler6600 2 місяці тому

    Very good presentation! With some simple arithmetic I was able to show a and b could not both be 2, and not all three of a, b, c could be greater than 4. Then by writing out the possible answers I found the 3,4,5 solution. I would have found the other solutions eventually, but your way is faster.

  • @Christian_Martel
    @Christian_Martel 2 місяці тому +3

    Ok people, let’s start over by replacing = 2 by = 3 in the initial proposition.

  • @kateknowles8055
    @kateknowles8055 3 місяці тому

    Good teaching which is fulsome , very clear and easily listened to.
    We did not say " not equal to" , so (1+1/3)(1+1/3)(1+1/8) = (4/3)*(4/3)*(9/8)= (16/9)*(9/8) =2 also gives us a possible solution
    if a=b is allowed. a=3, b=3, c=8. This came at 20.00
    However a=b=c is covered at 3.00.
    I missed 3 sets of solutions out of the 5 sets . i become more humble!
    9/27 is 33+1/3%
    aaw!

  • @TurquoizeGoldscraper
    @TurquoizeGoldscraper 3 місяці тому +1

    Lovely solution. It was fun to watch you.

  • @BRUBRUETNONO
    @BRUBRUETNONO Місяць тому

    Brilliant explaination ! Thanks and greetings !

  • @Lightseeker1-j5p
    @Lightseeker1-j5p 2 місяці тому +4

    The only problem, though, is that you may not know an approximate value of cube root of 2 since you mustn't use a calculator in olympiads (btw approximations aren't exact values or constraints so may sometimes lead to the loss of solutions). Instead, I'd recommend to assume that a>=4. Then 4

  • @emanuellandeholm5657
    @emanuellandeholm5657 3 місяці тому +2

    I tried the simpler problem with just two variables. Solns are 2, 3 and 3, 2. Before watching the video, I expect a factorization like (a - 1)(b - 1)(c - 1) = something

    • @kateknowles8055
      @kateknowles8055 3 місяці тому +1

      This is an excellent tip: Try a simpler situation first. Also works outside the maths class sometimes. Builds skills and useful confidence.

  • @dazedheart9006
    @dazedheart9006 27 днів тому

    16:40 “I don’t want to write it…”
    “I am going to write it.”
    *sudden cut to board being completely filled*

  • @peterreali3950
    @peterreali3950 3 місяці тому +2

    Excellent Problem, I got the 3,4,5 but missed the 3,3,8 solution but was suspicious that there might be other solutions but was spending too much time on it. I wonder was this problem given under a test scenerio where time was limited? It is very challenging but a great exercise in logic. Unlike some of these other Olimpiad videos which are much less interesting.

  • @alexgarcia77
    @alexgarcia77 28 днів тому

    I like very much how you solved the problem except for the square root of two, which requires a calculator. Instead you could have tried calculating small numbers' cubes and see that (1+1/4)^32.

  • @rahulmmpl
    @rahulmmpl 3 місяці тому

    Beautiful question. Nicely explained

  • @holyshit922
    @holyshit922 3 місяці тому +8

    If you dont know cube root of two you can calculate it with pencil and paper method
    2^(1/3)= 1.25...
    1
    1000| 304 (Triple square of current approximation and append square of last digit of next approximation)
    3 * 2 (Triple current approximation shifted one position to the left and multiply by last digit of next approximation)
    364*2 (add them up and multiply by last digit of next approximation)
    1000
    728 (then subtract from remainder)
    272000|43225
    36 * 5
    43225
    180
    45025
    272000|45025*5
    225125
    46875000

  • @apnakaamkrelala
    @apnakaamkrelala 3 місяці тому +6

    20:54 nice quote man 🫡

  • @adw1z
    @adw1z 3 місяці тому +1

    The only comment I want to make is, people might not know the cube root of 2. Another way to plugging in is to use binomial, we get that cbrt(2) = (1+1)^(1/3)

  • @SGuerra
    @SGuerra 3 місяці тому +2

    Uau! Que questão linda! A solução dada foi mais linda ainda. Parabéns! Brazil - Julho 2024. Wow! What a beautiful question! The solution given was even more beautiful. Congratulations! Brazil - July 2024.

  • @Narennmallya
    @Narennmallya 3 місяці тому

    For your hardwork and amazing teaching style the least I can do is subscribe 😄

  • @holyshit922
    @holyshit922 3 місяці тому +7

    2

    • @PrimeNewtons
      @PrimeNewtons  3 місяці тому +2

      How did you figure this out? I didn't see it. If I could see this without doing all that work, I'd just brute force it.

    • @holyshit922
      @holyshit922 3 місяці тому +1

      @@PrimeNewtons Also brute force but with Python code

    • @lindor941
      @lindor941 3 місяці тому +2

      It is possible to see.
      If you want one number to be as large as possible, you need to make the others as small as possible. If you figure out the lower bounds for the first two numbers, you get the upper bound for the third.
      (1, n) doesn't work for any n
      (2, 2) doesn't work
      (2, 3) doesn't work
      (2, 4) could work
      (3, 3) could work
      Any other pair would be larger on average.
      Trying the two possible solutions, you get 15 and 8 as possible upper bounds, meaning that the true upper bound is the larger of those values, 15.
      I still wouldn't brute force from here. There would be
      14!/(3!*(14-3)!)
      =(14*13*12)/(3*2)
      =7*13*4
      =364
      possible ways to choose 3 numbers out of 14 possibilities ignoring the order.

  • @usikpa
    @usikpa 3 місяці тому

    If a=2, we have b+1/b = 4c/3(c+1), which works out to c = (3b+3)/(b-3) = 3+12/(b-3). Given the constraints, easy to see that b

  • @samcopner8661
    @samcopner8661 3 місяці тому +1

    Another way to find the upper limit is to consider 2

  • @wannabeactuary01
    @wannabeactuary01 3 місяці тому

    Wow, wow and wow! Super clear explanation.

  • @maaikevreugdemaker9210
    @maaikevreugdemaker9210 2 місяці тому

    Wow I would never have thought it would have so many solutions (even wothout the permutations)

  • @Kantharr
    @Kantharr 2 місяці тому

    That was an amazing way to explain how to solve it. Would it be possible to implement the same techniques for the following question or how would you solve this: x + 1/x + y + 1/y - z - 1/z = 2 where x > y > z

  • @laurv8370
    @laurv8370 2 місяці тому

    Very nice explanation and video. However, a bit too long/complicate. You could just amplify and use prime decomposition to make all combinations.

  • @wannabeactuary01
    @wannabeactuary01 3 місяці тому

    loved this. The bounds were the highlight

  • @elunedssong8909
    @elunedssong8909 3 місяці тому +2

    Before watching video:
    x/y * z/u *r/q = 2
    neccesarily
    y= x-1
    u=z-1
    q=r-1
    x * z * r = 2 (x-1) (z-1)(r-1)
    suppose all the same number
    x^3 = 2 (x-1)^3
    y = x^3-2(x-1)^3
    Plug in values of x till you find where the output flips from positive to negative, vise versa, or valid x answer.
    4->5 goes from positive to negative.
    (implied, 5, 5, 5 is negative)
    decrease a random number of 555 (since it is closer than 4,4,4 to 0), to try and make it go back positive.
    5, 5, 4 is slightely positive.
    Take opposite approach on not the 4, to try and get closer to 0 again.
    try 5, 6, 4
    1 answer found.
    To put it back into its orginal form, you subtract 1 from each value.
    4,5,3
    Now start from the other side, and repeat the process to find more examples, and also dont give up simply for finding an answer.
    Okay i'm done watching the video. This is genuis. Wow I feel like my solution is barbaric in comparison. incredible!

  • @TheAlavini
    @TheAlavini 3 місяці тому

    Congrat! Nice teaching class,

  • @iam_sandeepsaini
    @iam_sandeepsaini 2 місяці тому

    I got a easy solution for it when i tried myself before watching solution....
    Afer solving the equation a bit, we get
    (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = 2abc
    By this equation, we can simply compare
    b = c+1
    c = a+1
    2a = c+1
    And boom💥
    You get the desired solution

  • @VeryGoodDeals
    @VeryGoodDeals 2 місяці тому

    so I solved this problem thinking there would only be 1 solution
    What I did was first change it to ((a+1)/a)((b+1)/b)((c+1)/c)=2 and ((a+1)(b+1)(c+1))/(abc)=2. So I tried to think of it as 2 of the factors in the denominator and 2 in the numerator will cancel out and the last factor in the numerator would be double the last factor in the denominator. so WLOG, I decided b+1=a and c+1=b so that simplifying it gets (a+1)/c=2
    you can get a=c+2 and a+1=2c from these equations. then with substitution, you get 2c-1=a and so c+2=2c-1, so c=3.
    then using b+1=a and c+1=b, you get b=4 and a=5 to get the 3,4,5 solution
    ik in general this isn't a good method, but it worked here

  • @shashankgangwar7687
    @shashankgangwar7687 2 місяці тому

    Imagine the denominator of the previous term cancels the numerator of the next term.
    Then the equation can be written as
    (K+1)/K * (K+2)/(K+1) * (K+3)/(K+2) = 2. which gives 3,4,5
    Similarly
    We can have
    (K+1)/K * (K+1)/K * (K*K)/(K*K - 1) = 2
    This gives 3,3,8

  • @theredgenesect23
    @theredgenesect23 2 місяці тому +1

    Interesting way to go about the question. I managed to find 2 unordered triples of solutions using the following method.
    (1+1/a)(1+1/b)(1+1/c)=2
    1 + 1/b + 1/a + 1/ab + 1/c + 1/bc + 1/ac + 1/abc=2
    ac + a + bc + b + c + 1 = abc - ab
    a(c+1) + b(c+1) + 1(c+1) = ab(c-1)
    (a+b+1)(c+1) = ab(c-1)
    Assume that for some value(s) of a, b and c, c+1=ab
    Then, c=ab-1
    Therefore, a+b+1=ab-2
    a+b=ab-3
    By inspection, it is easily observed that (2,5,9) and (3,3,8) are solutions to this equation, and hitherto to the original equation (which is easily verified by substituting into the original equation.)

  • @patrikwihlke4170
    @patrikwihlke4170 3 місяці тому +1

    I just remembered this question yesterdat which I got as homework as a kid… and here it was, suggested to me on youtube 😄

  • @bizikimiz6003
    @bizikimiz6003 3 місяці тому +1

    2 books for my fellow "I like not to involve calculus" problem solvers: Ivan Niven - Maxima and Minima Without Calculus; and Michael Steele: The Cauchy-Schwartz Master Class.

  • @razendra2011
    @razendra2011 3 місяці тому +1

    Fantastic proof.Super like and appreciate 👍

  • @KennethDuda
    @KennethDuda 2 місяці тому

    Maybe I got lucky, but I solved this in five minutes. First, a little easy algebra:
    (1 + 1/a)(1 + 1/b)(1 + 1/c) = 2
    ((a+1)/a) ((b+1)/b) ((c+1)/c) = 2
    (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) = 2abc
    And then... how about, just match terms. This works if a+1=b, b+1=c, and c+1=2a. So you just start trying consecutive numbers until you find a sequence a, a+1, a+2 where the last number is once less than twice the first number. Obviously this is 3,4,5. And it just works. (4)(5)(6) = 2(3)(4)(5), naturally.
    Maybe I got lucky that that worked, but it was a heck of a lot easier than this 20-minute answer.

    • @JonNichollsALevelMathsHelp
      @JonNichollsALevelMathsHelp 2 місяці тому

      Have you found all of the solutions? Finding a partially correct answer tends to be a heck of a lot easier than finding the full solution set. Oh and by the way, I used the same approach as you!

  • @eve_the_eevee_rh
    @eve_the_eevee_rh 17 днів тому

    (1+1/x) = (x+1)/x
    (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)/abc = 2
    Let's try and say a+1 / c = 2, b+1 / a = 1, and c+1 / b = 1
    b=c+1, a=b+1=c+2, c+3 / c = 2 => c = 3, b = 4, a = 5
    Verification:
    (1+⅕)(1+¼)(1+⅓)
    = (6/5)(5/4)(4/3)
    = 6/3
    = 2

    • @eve_the_eevee_rh
      @eve_the_eevee_rh 17 днів тому

      Ofc this is only one solution there might be more

  • @EfiXa
    @EfiXa 2 місяці тому

    If a=1 then the other two factors should multiply to 1. Then by reducing the equation b+c=-1 which gives as much combinations of b and c as you want...

  • @user-rg3so5ps4g
    @user-rg3so5ps4g 3 місяці тому

    Dear master,
    fantastic logical way of solving problems,made my eyes opening after viewing your video, thx u so much
    However, u hv verified a=b=c is not true as a,b & c are natural numbers. Hence the solution (3,3,8) and its permutations is invalid , total solution is 24 instead of 27, pls advise and correct me if I'm wrong

    • @JonNichollsALevelMathsHelp
      @JonNichollsALevelMathsHelp 2 місяці тому

      a=b=c implies ALL 3 must be equal. a=3, b=3, c=8 is a valid solution, since (1+1/3)(1+1/3)(1+1/8)=4/3*4/3*9/8=144/72=2 as required.

  • @filippocontiberas
    @filippocontiberas 3 місяці тому

    Solved in a faster way using more logic than math (6 solutions only):
    1° step - common denominator in fractions
    ( 1 + 1/a ) * ( 1 + 1/b ) * ( 1 + 1/c ) = 2 -->
    --> [ ( a + 1 ) / a ] * [ ( b + 1 ) / b ] * [ ( c + 1 ) / c ] = 2
    2° step - whole expression inversion (fractions inversion)
    --> [ a / ( a + 1 ) ] * [ b / ( b + 1 ) ] * [ c / ( c + 1 ) ] = 1 / 2
    3° step - I observe I need three fractions that produces a single final fraction ( 1/2 ), solution: cross semplifications!
    The denominator of the preceding fraction must be the numerator of the next fraction for the cross semplification
    example: M/N * N/R * R/S = M/S and M must be half of S
    4° step - I observe any fraction has the denominator ( N + 1 ) as the next integer of the numerator ( N ),
    solution: using integers succession together with cross semplification!
    First succession try: a = 1 , b = 2 , c = 3
    1 / 2 * 2 / 3 * 3 / 4 = 1 / 2 ? Wrong
    Second succession try: a = 2 , b = 3 , c = 4
    2 / 3 * 3 / 4 * 4 / 5 = 1 / 2 ? Wrong
    Third succession try: a = 3 , b = 4 , c = 5
    3 / 4 * 4 / 5 * 5 / 6 = 3 / 6 = 1 / 2 Solved!!!
    I got 3 different integers in 6 total combinations.
    With less math and more observation the olympiad problem was solved. 😇
    More math for the other solutions.

  • @grazianovenanzoni9858
    @grazianovenanzoni9858 3 місяці тому +1

    beautiful!🤎

  • @mazeltov2110
    @mazeltov2110 3 місяці тому

    Very good explanation

  • @pb1940
    @pb1940 Місяць тому

    Very well done! My math degree is 45 years old, so it's good to brush the cobwebs off some of my brain neurons!

  • @angyuekai2747
    @angyuekai2747 2 місяці тому

    How about this perspective. By turning them into improper fraction we get a form like (a+1)/a … , then observe that when the denominator and numerator can cancel each out, that is when a+1/c=2, a=b+1, c=b+1,then we have our answer, by solving1 this linear equation system, we can get our desired answer (3,4,5)

  • @PATILGameking
    @PATILGameking 2 місяці тому +1

    a = infinity
    b= infinity
    c=1
    Solved

    • @Xaxaxoxa
      @Xaxaxoxa 2 місяці тому +1

      Nope, Infinity is not in the set of N

  • @abrahamgizaw9313
    @abrahamgizaw9313 3 місяці тому

    the way I did it before seeing yours is like first making the equation (a+1)(b+2)(c+1)/abc=2 and then this will be true if the numerators can be divided by denominator that means a+1=b, b+1=c and c+1=2a and then solve for equation from this three equations for three variables we have and we get 3, 4, 5 as solution for this.

  • @mariox729
    @mariox729 3 місяці тому

    Great lecture!

  • @ashutoshpendse4273
    @ashutoshpendse4273 3 місяці тому

    Loved it. Clear and understandable.

  • @niravgandhi7357
    @niravgandhi7357 3 місяці тому +1

    Fantastic!

  • @royprasad
    @royprasad 3 місяці тому

    Really enjoyed it. You're a heck of a good teacher. But is it really necessary to enumerate all the permutations? W.L.O.G., (3,4,5) is the same as any of the six arrangements of the same three numbers. What I find fascinating is, when I look at (2,4,15), (2,5,9), (2,6,7), (3,4,5), and (3,3,8) all being solutions to the same equation, I cannot intuitively feel why or how they could all be solutions. Especially when I consider (2,5,9) and (3,3,8), there are no "handles" I can grasp in order to leap from one solution domain to the other solution domain. Yet, both these solutions simply exist in nature, and are perhaps comprehendible by others far more intelligent than me. That is a humbling feeling!

  • @skwest
    @skwest 3 місяці тому

    Funny... I just wanted to see if I could spot some kind of pattern that arises with 'random' choices. So, I started with: a=3, b=4, c=5.
    Ding, ding, ding, ding....
    So, I got an answer in the first 10 seconds. Positively Olympic!

  • @thedeathofbirth0763
    @thedeathofbirth0763 2 місяці тому

    There is nothing that I dislike about him! I wish I knew .0001 of what he knows about mathematics...Going to uni soon, hope I have profs like him...

  • @vectorfield4
    @vectorfield4 3 місяці тому

    Интересно, спасибо. Отличная подача.

  • @thomaswan4956
    @thomaswan4956 3 місяці тому

    This question tests the application of equations.
    It is known that (1+(1/a))(1+(1/b))(1+(1/c))=2.
    Then (a+1)/a×(b+1)/b×(c+1)/c=2.
    That is (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)=2abc.
    Expand it: abc+ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1=2abc.
    Therefore, ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1=abc.
    Since a, b, and c are all positive integers,
    Therefore, at least one of a, b, and c is greater than or equal to 2.
    Assume a≥2, b≥1, c≥1,
    Then, ab≥2, ac≥2, bc≥1, a≥2, b≥1, c≥1.
    Therefore, ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1≥2+2+1+2+1+1=9.
    And abc≥2×1×1=2.
    Therefore, ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1>abc.
    This is contradictory to ab+ac+bc+a+b+c+1=abc.
    Therefore, it is impossible for a, b, and c to all be greater than or equal to 2.
    Then, only one of a, b, and c can be 2, and the other two are both 1.
    Let's set a=2, b=1, c=1.
    At this time, (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)=3×2×2=12, 2abc=2×2×1×1=4.
    Satisfies (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)=2abc.
    In summary, a=2, b=1, c=1 is the solution of the equation (1+(1/a))(1+(1/b))(1+(1/c))=2.

    • @vinceturner3863
      @vinceturner3863 3 місяці тому

      But if you put your solution values into the LHS it equals 6 which is not 2 so a=2. b=1. c-1 is not a solution.

    • @thomaswan4956
      @thomaswan4956 3 місяці тому

      @@vinceturner3863 let's re-examine this step-by-step:
      The original equation is: a ÷ (b + c) ≠ (a ÷ b) + (a ÷ c)
      The given values are: a = 2, b = 1, c = -1
      Plugging these values into the left-hand side (LHS):
      LHS = a ÷ (b + c)
      = 2 ÷ (1 + (-1))
      = 2 ÷ 0
      = undefined
      Plugging the values into the right-hand side (RHS):
      RHS = (a ÷ b) + (a ÷ c)
      = (2 ÷ 1) + (2 ÷ (-1))
      = 2 + (-2)
      = 0
      Comparing the LHS and RHS:
      LHS = undefined
      RHS = 0
      Therefore, the original equation is not satisfied, as the LHS is undefined and the RHS is 0.
      So you are correct - the given values of a = 2, b = 1, c = -1 do not satisfy the original equation, as the LHS evaluates to an undefined value, not 6 as stated. The solution values do not make the LHS equal 6 instead of 2. Thank you for catching my mistake!

  • @maxvangulik1988
    @maxvangulik1988 3 місяці тому

    5/4•4/3•6/5=2
    (1+1/4)(1+1/3)(1+1/5)=2
    a,b,c=3,4,5 in some order

  • @okonol
    @okonol 3 місяці тому +1

    Sometimes, examiners ask certain questions just to see if the student is stupid enough to waste time on it.

  • @delalinamamegago5198
    @delalinamamegago5198 3 місяці тому

    Great man, I salute you

  • @georgepaidas1132
    @georgepaidas1132 3 місяці тому

    Amazing!!!! Awesome!!! That's really a nice problem.

  • @suelingsusu1339
    @suelingsusu1339 3 місяці тому

    There are only 5 solutions.... the permutation stuff is not necessary since a, b, c are arbitrary naming we can assign the three numbers in each of the solutions to a, b, c so that a is

    • @cantkeepitin
      @cantkeepitin 2 місяці тому

      Treating each solution as a set (which is the task) you have to treat the permutations

    • @suelingsusu1339
      @suelingsusu1339 2 місяці тому

      @@cantkeepitin ... which results in many sets that have the same elements thus the same sets.