1992 IMO Problems/Problem 1

Problem

Find all integers $a$ , $b$ , $c$ satisfying $1 < a < b < c$ such that $(a - 1)(b -1)(c - 1)$ is a divisor of $abc - 1$ .

Solution

$1<\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}<\frac{abc}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}$

$1<\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}<\left(\frac{a}{a-1}\right) \left(\frac{b}{b-1}\right) \left(\frac{c}{c-1}\right)$

With $1<a<b<c$ it implies that $a \ge 2$ , $b \ge 3$ , $c \ge 4$

Therefore, $\frac{a}{a-1}=1+\frac{1}{a-1}$

which for $a$ gives: $\frac{a}{a-1} \le 1+\frac{1}{2-1}$ , which gives : $\frac{a}{a-1} \le 2$

for $b$ gives: $\frac{b}{b-1} \le 1+\frac{1}{3-1}$ , which gives : $\frac{b}{b-1} \le \frac{3}{2}$

for $c$ gives: $\frac{c}{c-1} \le 1+\frac{1}{4-1}$ , which gives : $\frac{c}{c-1} \le \frac{4}{3}$

Substituting those inequalities into the original inequality gives:

$1<\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}<\left( 2 \right) \left(\frac{3}{2}\right) \left(\frac{4}{3}\right)$

$1<\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}<4$

Since $\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}$ needs to be integer,

then $\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}=2$ or $\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}=3$

Case 1: $\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}=2$

$abc-1=2(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)=2abc-2(ab+bc+ac)+2(a+b+c)-2$

Case 1, subcase $a=2$ :

$2bc-1=2bc-2(b+c)+2$ gives: $2(b+c)=3$ which has no solution because $2(b+c)$ is even.

Case 1, subcase $a=3$ :

$3bc-1=4bc-4(b+c)+4$

$bc-4b-4c+5=0$

$(b-4)(c-4)=11$

$b-4=1$ and $c-4=11$ provides solution $(a,b,c)=(3,5,15)$

Case 2: $\frac{abc-1}{(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)}=3$

$abc-1=3(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)=3abc-3(ab+bc+ac)+3(a+b+c)-3$

Case 2, subcase $a=2$ :

$2bc-1=3bc-3(b+c)+3$

$bc-3b-3c+4=0$

$(b-3)(c-3)=5$

$b-3=1$ and $c-3=5$ provides solution $(a,b,c)=(2,4,8)$

Case 2, subcase $a=3$ :

$3bc-1=6bc-6(b+c)+6$

Since $(3bc-1$ ) mod $3 = -1$ and $(6bc-6(b+c)+6)$ mod $3 = 0$ , then there is no solution for this subcase.

Now we verify our two solutions:

when $(a,b,c)=(2,4,8)$

$abc-1=(2)(4)(8)-1=63$ and $(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)=(1)(3)(7)=21$

Since $21$ is a factor of $63$ , this solutions is correct.

when $(a,b,c)=(3,5,15)$

$abc-1=(3)(5)(15)-1=224$ and $(a-1)(b-1)(c-1)=(2)(4)(14)=112$

Since $112$ is a factor of $224$ , this solutions is also correct.

The solutions are: $(a,b,c)=(2,4,8)$ and $(a,b,c)=(3,5,15)$

~ Tomas Diaz. orders@tomasdiaz.com

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

1992 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by First Question	1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6	Followed by Problem 2
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1992 IMO Problems/Problem 1

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