Three distinct integers a,b, and c satisfy the following three conditions: abc=17955, a,b, and c form an arithmetic sequence in that order, and (3a+b),(3b+c), and (3c+a) form a geometric sequence in that order. What is the value of a+b+c?
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Solution
Since a,b and c form an arithmetic sequence in this order, then a=b−d and c=b+d for some real number d. We note that d=0, since otherwise we would have a=b=c and then abc=17955 would tell us that b3=17955 or b=317955, which is not an integer. Writing the terms of the geometric sequence in terms of b and d, we have 3a+b=3(b−d)+b=4b−3d3b+c=3b+(b+d)=4b+d3c+a=3(b+d)+(b−d)=4b+2d. Since 3a+b,3b+c and 3c+a form a geometric sequence in this order, then 3a+b3b+c=3b+c3c+a. Simplifying, we get 12b=−7d and d=−712b. Therefore, a=b−d=b−(−712b)=719b and c=b+d=b+(−712b)=−75b. Since abc=17955, then (719b)(b)(−75b)=17955 or −4995b3=17955 or b3=−9261 and so b=−21. Thus, a=719b=719(−21)=−57 and c=−75b=−75(−21)=15. We can check that a=−57,b=−21 and c=15 have a product of 17955, that −57,−21,15 is indeed an arithmetic sequence (with common difference 36), and that 3a+b=−192, 3b+c=−48, and 3c+a=−12 form a geometric sequence (with common ratio 41). Therefore, a+b+c=(−57)+(−21)+15=−63.
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