Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 203 of 400 #1203 of 1964

Problem 1203

National olympiad, first round
Number theory Difficulty 6.3 Prove it 37th Hellenic Mathematical Olympiad 2020 · Greece · 2020

Find all values of the positive integer vv for which there exist triads (α,β,γ)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) of positive integers satisfying the equation
α+β+γ=vαβγ.(E) \alpha + \beta + \gamma = v\alpha\beta\gamma. \qquad (E)
For these values find all solutions of the equation (E).

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

Since the equation is symmetric with respect to α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma we suppose that αβγ\alpha \ge \beta \ge \gamma. Then we have:
αα+β+γ3ααvαβγ3α1vβγ3. \alpha \le \alpha + \beta + \gamma \le 3\alpha \Leftrightarrow \alpha \le v\alpha\beta\gamma \le 3\alpha \Rightarrow 1 \le v\beta\gamma \le 3.

We distinguish the following cases:
v>3v > 3. Then vβγ>3v\beta\gamma > 3, absurd.
v=3v = 3. Then 13βγ3βγ=1β=γ=11 \le 3\beta\gamma \le 3 \Rightarrow \beta\gamma = 1 \Rightarrow \beta = \gamma = 1, and hence
α+2=3αα=1. \alpha + 2 = 3\alpha \Leftrightarrow \alpha = 1.
Therefore we get the solution: (α,β,γ)=(1,1,1)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) = (1,1,1).
v=2v = 2. Then 12βγ3βγ=1β=γ=11 \le 2\beta\gamma \le 3 \Rightarrow \beta\gamma = 1 \Rightarrow \beta = \gamma = 1, and
α+2=2αα=2. \alpha + 2 = 2\alpha \Leftrightarrow \alpha = 2.
Therefore we get the solution (α,β,γ)=(2,1,1)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) = (2,1,1) and using symmetry we obtain the solutions (α,β,γ)=(1,2,1)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) = (1,2,1) and (α,β,γ)=(1,1,2)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) = (1,1,2).
v=1v = 1. Then 1βγ3βγ{1,2,3}1 \le \beta\gamma \le 3 \Rightarrow \beta\gamma \in \{1,2,3\}.
If βγ=1\beta\gamma = 1, then β=γ=1\beta = \gamma = 1 and α+2=1\alpha + 2 = 1, impossible.
If βγ=2\beta\gamma = 2, then β=2,γ=1\beta = 2, \gamma = 1 and α+3=2αα=3\alpha + 3 = 2\alpha \Leftrightarrow \alpha = 3.
Therefore (α,β,γ)=(3,2,1)(\alpha, \beta, \gamma) = (3,2,1) and by symmetry
(α,β,γ)=(2,1,3),(α,β,γ)=(3,2,1),(α,β,γ)=(3,1,2),(α,β,γ)=(1,2,3),(α,β,γ)=(2,3,1). \begin{align*} (\alpha, \beta, \gamma) &= (2,1,3), \\ (\alpha, \beta, \gamma) &= (3,2,1), \\ (\alpha, \beta, \gamma) &= (3,1,2), \\ (\alpha, \beta, \gamma) &= (1,2,3), \\ (\alpha, \beta, \gamma) &= (2,3,1). \end{align*}
If βγ=3\beta\gamma = 3, then β=3,γ=1\beta = 3, \gamma = 1 and α+4=3αα=2\alpha + 4 = 3\alpha \Leftrightarrow \alpha = 2. (rejected, α<β\alpha < \beta).
Hence v{1,2,3}v \notin \{1,2,3\}.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.