The sum of three numbers is . The first is four times the sum of the other two. The second is seven times the third. What is the product of all three?
Pick one
Solution
Solution 1
Let the numbers be , , and in that order. The given tells us that
\begin{eqnarray*}y&=&7z\\ x&=&4(y+z)=4(7z+z)=4(8z)=32z\\ x+y+z&=&32z+7z+z=40z=20\\ z&=&\frac{20}{40}=\frac{1}{2}\\ y&=&7z=7\cdot\frac{1}{2}=\frac{7}{2}\\ x&=&32z=32\cdot\frac{1}{2}=16 \end{eqnarray*}
Therefore, the product of all three numbers is .
Solution 2
Alternatively, we can set up the system in equation form:
\begin{eqnarray*}1x+1y+1z&=&20\\ 1x-4y-4z&=&0\\ 0x+1y-7z&=&0\\ \end{eqnarray*}
Or, in matrix form
To solve this matrix equation, we can rearrange it thus:
Solving this matrix equation by using inverse matrices and matrix multiplication yields
Which means that , , and . Therefore,
Solution 3
Let's denote the 3rd number as , the 2nd as , and the 1st as according to the information given in the problem. We know that all three numbers add up to , so . Solving the equation we get . Then substitute this value of x to solve for the other two numbers. Lastly, we obtain as the product of all three numbers.