2012 AMC 10A Problem 24

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24.

Let a,a, b,b, and cc be positive integers with abca\ge b\ge c such that a2b2c2+ab=2011a^2-b^2-c^2+ab=2011 and a2+3b2+3c23ab2ac2bca^2+3b^2+3c^2-3ab-2ac-2bc=1997.=-1997. What is a?a?

249249

250250

251251

252252

253253

Answer: E
Concepts:algebraic manipulationDiophantine Equationcasework
Difficulty rating: 2350
Solution:

Adding together the equations gives us 2(a2+b2+c2)2(ab+ac+bc) 2(a^2 + b^2 + c^2) - 2(ab + ac + bc)=14. = 14.

We can group terms and factor this to get (ab)2+(ac)2+(bc)2 (a - b)^2 + (a - c)^2 + (b - c)^2=14. = 14.

Note that every term on the left hand side is a nonnegative square integer. The only triple of squares that add to 1414 is 9,4,9, 4, and 1.1.

We have that aca - c is the biggest difference among the three pairs. Therefore, ac=3.a - c = 3.

We cannot discern which of the other terms we can match with the other squares. Let us try ab=1a - b = 1 and bc=2.b - c = 2.

Plugging in these values into the first equation gives us a2(a1)2(a3)2 a^2 - (a - 1)^2 - (a - 3)^2 +a(a1)=2011. + a(a - 1) = 2011. Simplifying yields 7a=2021.7a = 2021. Since 20212021 is not divisible by 7,7, we have that ab=2a - b = 2 and bc=1.b - c = 1.

In the other case, b=a2b=a-2 and c=a3.c=a-3. The first equation becomes a2(a2)2(a3)2+a(a2)=2011,\begin{aligned} a^2-(a-2)^2-(a-3)^2\\ {}+a(a-2)&=2011, \end{aligned} or 8a13=2011.8a-13=2011. Hence a=253.a=253.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

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