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#451 2006-02-25 09:17:57

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Problems and Solutions


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#452 2006-02-25 17:31:21

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

aliyes.gif


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#453 2006-02-25 17:38:44

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

Problem # k + 107

The price of a water-melon is 50 cents, an apple is 10 cents and a plum is 1 cent. Five dollars were used to buy 100 items of different kinds of fruit. How many pieces of each type were bought?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#454 2006-02-26 00:13:53

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

Problem # k + 108

What is the sum of the first 50 terms common to the series 15,19,23 ... and 14,19,24 ... ?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#455 2006-02-26 06:48:06

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Problems and Solutions

Possibly a bit unconventional...

But nothing unconventional here.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#456 2006-02-26 08:38:42

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Problems and Solutions

(19 pages, wowee! Maybe you could start a new topic?)


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#457 2006-02-26 15:56:27

Ricky
Moderator
Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 3,791

Re: Problems and Solutions

I was actually wondering that for quite a while, MathIsFun.  Wouldn't it be more organized if Ganesh did one question per topic?  I mean, we got an entire section of the forum for it, why not?


"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

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#458 2006-02-26 16:49:34

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

To mathsyperson :- Funnily, your solution to Problem # k + 107 is correct, although unconventional, as you put it. Please read the Problem # k + 108 again before posting your solution. up

To MathsIsFun :- Good suggestion, worth considering. cool

To Ricky :- One question per topic is fine. But what do we do with the problems already posted? Put them all in an 'Assorted' or 'Miscellaneous' topic? Good suggestion, worth considering. smile


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#459 2006-02-26 22:18:34

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Problems and Solutions

Do you mean this is the end of "Problems and solutions"?


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#460 2006-02-26 22:26:23

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

I hope not. Some problems would be posted here in the future too. There are some unanswered problems for which solutions would have to be posted. Hence, this is not the end of 'Problems and solutions'. This topic shall remain the precursor of other topics. smile


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#461 2006-02-28 16:28:18

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

Problem # k + 109

Prove that every number of the form a[sup]4[/sup]+4 is a composite number (a≠1).

(This problem was posed by the eminent French mathematician Sophie Germain).


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#462 2006-03-01 03:34:28

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Problems and Solutions

It's fairly simple apart from when a ends in 5.

When mod(10) a = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, mod(10)(a[sup]4[/sup] + 4) = 4, 5, 0, 5, 0, 9, 0, 5, 0 and 5 respectively.

Numbers that end in 4, 5 or 0 are never prime (apart from 5) so that proves it for all values of a except for ##5. But proving it for that is quite difficult.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#463 2006-03-01 03:40:37

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

mathsyperson, a good attempt! I shall post the proof after a few days (during the weekend, when I am free). smile


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#464 2006-03-02 18:44:03

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Problems and Solutions

Problem # k + 110

Let n be an integer.  Can both n + 3 and n2 + 3 be perfect cubes?


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#465 2006-07-12 01:19:14

Daisy
Member
Registered: 2006-07-12
Posts: 1

Re: Problems and Solutions

ganesh wrote:

Outstanding! You are really supersmart! big_smile
Try this one....But don't post your reply immediately.
Let others too try. big_smile

(2) A mixture of 40 liters of milk and water contains 10% water. How much water must be added to make water 20% in the new mixture? smile

I think that you would have to add 5 liters of  water to make the solution 20%.

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#466 2006-07-12 02:34:31

Patrick
Real Member
Registered: 2006-02-24
Posts: 1,005

Re: Problems and Solutions

Daisy - that is correct. 9liters(the new amount of water) is in fact 1/5 of 45liters(the new total)


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#467 2006-07-22 22:25:17

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Problems and Solutions

#k+110
Let
n+3=x^3;
2n+3=y^3
Then
n=x^3-3;
2(x^3-3)+3=y^3
2x^3-3=y^3
The solutions of this diophantine equations are (1,-1) and (4,5)
So we have n=-2 and n=61.

smile


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#468 2009-01-04 11:03:07

JaneFairfax
Member
Registered: 2007-02-23
Posts: 6,868

Re: Problems and Solutions

ganesh wrote:

Problem # k + 109

Prove that every number of the form a[sup]4[/sup]+4 is a composite number (a≠1).

(This problem was posed by the eminent French mathematician Sophie Germain).

The trick is to use complex numbers – or Gaussian integers (complex numbers with integer real and imaginary parts). Thus, factorizing in the ring of Gaussian integers, we have

Since

and
we have


Now we multiply the factors in a different order! big_smile

             

And it is clear that if

, both
  and
are integers greater than 1. Hence
is composite if
! dizzy

Last edited by JaneFairfax (2009-01-04 11:48:44)

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#469 2010-10-21 13:00:42

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Problems and Solutions

Hi ganesh;

For k + 42

No method was ever given for this problem. To fill in the gap I provide my solution.
It avoids having to solve a simultaneous set of equations over the integers, which is possible but computer dependent.

If we call the amount of coconuts originally as C0 ( and x for later ) and C1 the operation performed by the first man, with C2 the second etc, We form this group of equations.

It is easy to spot a  recurrence form!

We solve this by standard means:

Do not bother to simplity. Just substitute 5 for n. There are 5 guys remember.

You get the fraction:

Set it equal to y, ( I like x and y ). The step is justified because 1024 x - 8404 is obviously a multiple of 3125.

Rearrange to standard form for a linear diophantine equation.

Solve by Brahmagupta's method, continued fraction, GCD reductions...
Whatever you like. You just need 1 solution! I have a small answer found by trial and error of ( x = - 4 , y = - 4 ).

Now if a linear diophantine equation has one solution it has an infinite number of them.

Utilize Bezouts identity, which says if you have one answer (x,y) then you can get another by:

Plug in x = -4, y = - 4, a = 1024, b = -3125

Now it has been solved in terms of a parameter k. Substitute k = -1,-2,-3,-4,-5 ... to get all solutions.
k = -1 yields (3121, 1020) which is the smallest positive solution. So there are 3121 coconuts in the original pile.

It was not necessary to even know of Bezouts identity. From equation A  you have the congruence:

Once one answer of x = -4 was found you just have to add 3125 to get x = 3121.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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