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Japan Mathematical Olympiad

Number theory Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Prove it Japan

Let a,b,c,d,e,f,ga, b, c, d, e, f, g be 7 distinct positive integers less than or equal to 7. Determine all the prime numbers which can be represented in the form
a×b×c×d+e×f×g. a \times b \times c \times d + e \times f \times g.

Solution

Let A={a,b,c,d}A = \{a, b, c, d\}, B={e,f,g}B = \{e, f, g\}. Suppose the number X=abcd+efgX = abcd + efg is a prime. Then, we see that the numbers 2,4,62, 4, 6 must belong to the same set AA or BB, because, otherwise, both abcdabcd and efgefg become even, and therefore XX must be even, and since X≠2X \ne 2, XX cannot be a prime. Also, the numbers 33 and 66 must belong to the same set AA or BB, because, otherwise XX becomes a multiple of 33 and since X≠3X \ne 3, XX cannot be a prime.
Consequently, we see that A={2,3,4,6}A = \{2, 3, 4, 6\} and B={1,5,7}B = \{1, 5, 7\}, and we conclude that the only prime number of the form abcd+efgabcd + efg is 2⋅3⋅4⋅6+1⋅5⋅7=1792 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 \cdot 6 + 1 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 179.

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