Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 14"

(See also)
(added a solution)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 5\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 17\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 25\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 27\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 30</math>
 
<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 5\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 17\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 25\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 27\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 30</math>
  
==Solution==
+
==Solutions==
 +
===Solution 1===
 
If 45 is expressed as a product of five distinct integer factors, the absolute value of the product of any four it as least <math> |(-3)(-1)(1)(3)|=9</math>, so no factor can have an absolute value greater than 5. Thus the factors of the given expression are five of the integers <math>\pm 3, \pm 1, \pm 5</math>. The product of all six of these is <math>-225=(-5)(45)</math>, so the factors are -3, -1, 1, 3, and 5. The corresponding values of a, b, c, d, and e are 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1, and their sum is 25 (C).
 
If 45 is expressed as a product of five distinct integer factors, the absolute value of the product of any four it as least <math> |(-3)(-1)(1)(3)|=9</math>, so no factor can have an absolute value greater than 5. Thus the factors of the given expression are five of the integers <math>\pm 3, \pm 1, \pm 5</math>. The product of all six of these is <math>-225=(-5)(45)</math>, so the factors are -3, -1, 1, 3, and 5. The corresponding values of a, b, c, d, and e are 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1, and their sum is 25 (C).
 +
 +
===Solution 2===
 +
The prime factorization of <math>45</math> is <math>3^2 * 5</math>. Therefore, the 5 distinct integer factors must have some negative numbers in them. Because there are two <math>3</math>'s in the prime factorization, one of them must be negative and the other positive. Because there is a <math>-3</math>, there must also be a <math>-1</math> to cancel the negatives out. The 5 distinct integer factors must be <math>-3, 3, 5, -1, 1</math>. The corresponding values of <math>a, b, c, d, </math> and <math>e</math> are <math>9, 3, 1, 7, 5</math>. and their sum is <math>\fbox{25 (C)}</math>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 13:44, 7 August 2017

Problem

Let a, b, c, d, and e be distinct integers such that

$(6-a)(6-b)(6-c)(6-d)(6-e)=45$

What is $a+b+c+d+e$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 5\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 17\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 25\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 27\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 30$

Solutions

Solution 1

If 45 is expressed as a product of five distinct integer factors, the absolute value of the product of any four it as least $|(-3)(-1)(1)(3)|=9$, so no factor can have an absolute value greater than 5. Thus the factors of the given expression are five of the integers $\pm 3, \pm 1, \pm 5$. The product of all six of these is $-225=(-5)(45)$, so the factors are -3, -1, 1, 3, and 5. The corresponding values of a, b, c, d, and e are 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1, and their sum is 25 (C).

Solution 2

The prime factorization of $45$ is $3^2 * 5$. Therefore, the 5 distinct integer factors must have some negative numbers in them. Because there are two $3$'s in the prime factorization, one of them must be negative and the other positive. Because there is a $-3$, there must also be a $-1$ to cancel the negatives out. The 5 distinct integer factors must be $-3, 3, 5, -1, 1$. The corresponding values of $a, b, c, d,$ and $e$ are $9, 3, 1, 7, 5$. and their sum is $\fbox{25 (C)}$

See also

2007 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png