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Algebra Difficulty 3.1 AMC 10/12 Prove it Canada

What is the smallest positive integer
nn for which 9 8 7 6 5 4\text{9 8 7 6 5 4} 3}{n}isequalto  is equal to k^3forsomeinteger for some integer k$?
What is the ordered pair (a,b)(a,b) that satisfies both of the
equations 3a+b=273^{a+b} = 27 and ab=5a-b = -5?
For some real number cc, the parabola with equation y=x2+7x+cy = -x^2 + 7x + c intersects the xx-axis at points P(10,0)P(10, 0) and QQ. If the parabola intersects the yy-axis at RR, determine the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Solution

Using the prime factorization of each of the factors of the
numerator, we see that 9876543=32237(23)5223=263457\begin{align*} 9 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3 & = 3^2 \cdot 2^3 \cdot 7 \cdot (2 \cdot 3) \cdot 5 \cdot 2^2 \cdot 3 \\ & = 2^6 \cdot 3^4 \cdot 5 \cdot 7\end{align*} To find the
smallest positive integer nn for
which 2 6\text{2 6} 3^4 5\cdot 5 \cdot
7}{n}$ is a perfect cube, we look for the minimal set of prime
divisors that we can remove (that is, divide out) from the numerator so
that the number of times that each remaining prime occurs is a multiple
of 33. This is because one way of
characterizing a perfect cube is that each of its prime factors occurs
in groups of 33.

To do this, we need to remove at least 11 factor of 33, at least 11 factor of 55, and at least 11 factor of 55. This means that n357n \geq 3 \cdot 5 \cdot 7.

If n=357=105n = 3\cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 105, then
9876543n=2633=(223)3\dfrac{9 \cdot 8 \cdot 7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 \cdot 3}{n} = 2^6 \cdot 3^3 = (2^2 \cdot 3)^3 Since
n105n \geq 105 and n=105n=105 gives a perfect cube, then the
smallest possible nn is n=105n = 105.
Since 3a+b=273^{a+b} = 27 and 33=273^3 = 27, then a+b=3a + b = 3.

Adding a+b=3a+b=3 to the equation ab=5a - b = -5, we obtain 2a=22a = -2 and so a=1a = -1.

Since b=3ab = 3 - a, then b=4b = 4 and so (a,b)=(1,4)(a, b) = (-1, 4).
Since P(10,0)P(10, 0) lies on the
parabola with equation $y = -x^2 + 7x +
c,then, then 0 = -100 + 70 + c$
and so c=30c = 30.

Thus, the parabola has equation $y = -x^2 +
7x + 30whichcanbefactoredtoobtain which can be factored to obtain y = -(x-10)(x+3)$.

Since QQ is the other xx-intercept of the parabola, then QQ has coordinates (3,0)(-3, 0).

Since RR is the point where the
parabola crosses the yy-axis, we set
x=0x = 0 and obtain y=30y = 30.

Thus, we want to find the area of the triangle with vertices P(10,0)P(10, 0), Q(3,0)Q(-3, 0) and R(0,30)R(0, 30).

We note that PQPQ is horizontal so
can be treated as the base of the triangle. Also, PQ=10(3)=13PQ = 10 - (-3) = 13.

Point RR is 3030 units above PQPQ, so the height of the triangle
relative to base PQPQ is 3030.

Therefore, the area of $\$\triangle
PQRis is 1213\frac{1}{2} \cdot 13 \cdot
30 = 195$.

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Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.