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Number theory Difficulty 4.9 AIME Find the answer

9.1. A simplest fraction is equal to the sum of two simplest fractions with denominators 600 and 700, respectively. Find the smallest possible value of the denominator of such a simplest fraction.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

9. 1. 23×3×7=1682^{3} \times 3 \times 7=168.

Let the two simplest fractions be a600\frac{a}{600} and b700\frac{b}{700}. Then (a,6)=(b,7)=1(a, 6)=(b, 7)=1.
Thus, the sum 7a+6b4200\frac{7 a+6 b}{4200} has a numerator that is coprime with 6 and 7.
Since 4200=23×3×7×524200=2^{3} \times 3 \times 7 \times 5^{2}, after canceling out the common factors, the denominator is no less than 23×3×7=1682^{3} \times 3 \times 7=168.
On the other hand, such a denominator can be obtained:
1600+3700=1168 \frac{1}{600}+\frac{3}{700}=\frac{1}{168} \text {. }

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.