VeritasPrepBrian wrote:
What is the value of product abc?
(1) 2^a * 3^b * 5^c = 1728
(2) a, b, and c are nonnegative integers
\(? = abc\)
\(\left( 1 \right)\,\,\,{2^a} \cdot {3^b} \cdot {5^c} = 1728\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}\\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {6,3,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,? = 0\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {1728 = {2^6} \cdot {3^3}} \right] \hfill \\\\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {{x_{\text{p}}},1,1} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,\,\,\,? = {x_{\text{p}}} > 0\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \hfill \\ \\
\end{gathered} \right.\)
\(\left( * \right)\,\,\,{2^x} = \frac{{1728}}{{15}}\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,x = {x_p} > 0\,\,\,{\text{unique}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\left( {{\text{see}}\,\,{\text{image}}\,\,{\text{attached}}} \right)\)
\(\left( 2 \right)\,\,a,b,c\,\,\, \geqslant 0\,\,\,\,{\text{ints}}\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}\\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {0,0,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,? = 0 \hfill \\\\
\,\,Take\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,1,1} \right)\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,? = 1 \hfill \\ \\
\end{gathered} \right.\)
\(\left( {1 + 2} \right)\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}\\
{2^a} \cdot {3^b} \cdot {5^c} = 1728 = {2^6} \cdot {3^3} \cdot {5^0} \hfill \\\\
\,a,b,c\,\,\, \geqslant 0\,\,\,\,{\text{ints}} \hfill \\ \\
\end{gathered} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {6,3,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,? = 0\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,{\text{SUFF}}.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\)
This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.
Regards,
Fabio.
Attachments
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Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator (Math for the GMAT)