Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 177 of 400 #777 of 1964

Problem 777

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.4 Prove it

In three cells of a grid sheet, numbers are written, while the other cells are empty. It is allowed to choose two numbers from different non-empty cells and write their sum in an empty cell; also, one can choose numbers a,b,ca, b, c from three different non-empty cells and write the number ab+c2a b+c^{2} in an empty cell. Prove that using several such operations, one can write the square of the sum of the three initial numbers (regardless of what they are) in one of the cells.

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

Let the numbers a,b,ca, b, c be written down. Sequentially form a+b,b+c,a+c,(a+b)c+a2,(b+c)a+b2,(c+a+b, b+c, a+c,(a+b) c+a^{2},(b+c) a+b^{2},(c+ a)b+c2,(a+b)c+a2+(b+c)a+b2a) b+c^{2},(a+b) c+a^{2}+(b+c) a+b^{2} and (a+b)c+a2+(b+c)a+b2+(c+a)b+c2=(a+b+c)2(a+b) c+a^{2}+(b+c) a+b^{2}+(c+a) b+c^{2}=(a+b+c)^{2}.

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