1.

Find all three digit natural numbers of the form (abc)10 such that (abc)10, (bca)10 and (cab)10 are in geometric progression. (Here (abc)10 is representation in base 10.)

Answer»

Let us write  

x = (a x 102) + (b x 10) + c; y = (b x 102) + (c x 10) + a; z = (c x 102) + (a x 10) + b.  

We are given that y2 = xz. This means  

(b x 102) + (c x 10) + a)2  =  ((a x 102) + (b x 10) + c))((c x 102) + (a x 10) + b)).  

We can solve for c and get  

c = (10b2 - a2)/(10a - b).  

If a, b, c are digits leading to a solution, and if d = gcd(a; b) then d|c. Consequently, we may  assume that gcd(a; b) = 1. Now  

c = (999a2)/(10a - b) - (10b + 100a),  

showing that 10a - b divides 999a2. Since a; b are relatively prime, this is possible only if  10a - b is a factor of 999. It follows that 10a - b takes the values 1,3,9,27,37. These values  lead to the pairs  

(a, b) = (1; 9), (1; 7), (1; 1), (4; 3).  

We can discard the first two pairs as they lead to a value of c > 10. The third gives the  trivial solution (111, 111, 111). Taking d = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, we get 9 solution.  (abc)10 = 111, 222, 333 444, 555, 666, 777, 888, 999.  

The last pair gives c = 2 and hence the solution (432,324, 243). Another solution is obtained  on multiplying by 2: (864, 648, 486).  

Thus we have  

(abc)10 = 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 666, 777, 888, 999, 432,864.



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