Difference between revisions of "2008 AIME II Problems/Problem 3"
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Revision as of 22:34, 4 July 2013
Problem
A block of cheese in the shape of a rectangular solid measures 
cm by 
cm by 
cm. Ten slices are cut from the cheese. Each slice has a width of 
cm and is cut parallel to one face of the cheese. The individual slices are not necessarily parallel to each other. What is the maximum possible volume in cubic cm of the remaining block of cheese after ten slices have been cut off?
Solution
Let the lengths of the three sides of the rectangular solid after the cutting be 
, so that the desired volume is 
. Note that each cut reduces one of the dimensions by one, so that after ten cuts, 
. By AM-GM, ![$\frac{a+b+c}{3} = 9 \ge \sqrt[3]{abc} \Longrightarrow abc \le \boxed{729}$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/b/d/7/bd793b87a8feecba72dfcfa78da2f735376c4896.png)
. Equality is achieved when 
, which is possible if we make one slice perpendicular to the cm edge, four slices perpendicular to the cm edge, and five slices perpendicular to the cm edge.
See also
| 2008 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 2 |
Followed by Problem 4 | |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
| All AIME Problems and Solutions | ||
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. 
