2004 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 22
Contents
Problem
The square
![$\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|} \hline 50 & \textit{b} & \textit{c} \\ \hline \textit{d} & \textit{e} & \textit{f} \\ \hline \textit{g} & \textit{h} & 2 \\ \hline \end{tabular}$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/2/b/9/2b91968b87cc7e340fb458ae8e44a75714a7622d.png)
is a multiplicative magic square. That is, the product of the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is the same. If all the entries are positive integers, what is the sum of the possible values of ?
Solution 1
All the unknown entries can be expressed in terms of .
Since
, it follows that
,
and
. Comparing rows
and
then gives
,
from which
.
Comparing columns
and
gives
,
from which
.
Finally,
, and
. All the entries are positive integers
if and only if
or
. The corresponding values for
are
and
, and their sum is
.
Credit to Solution B goes to http://billingswest.billings.k12.mt.us/math/AMC%201012/AMC%2012%20work%20sheets/2004%20AMC%2012B%20ws-15.pdf, a page with a play-by-play explanation of the solutions to this test's problems.
Solution 2
We know because this is a multiplicative magic square that each of the following are equal to each other:
From this we know that , thus
.
Thus
and
. Thus
From this we know that
. Thus
.
Now we know from the very beginning that
or
or
or
. Rearranging the equation
we have
or
due to
and
both being positive. Now that
we find all pairs of positive integers that multiply to
. There is
. Now we know that
and b has to be a positive integer. Thus
can only be
,
, or
. Thus
can only be
,
,or
. Thus sum of
=
. The answer is
.
See also
2004 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 21 |
Followed by Problem 23 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | |
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.