# Difference between revisions of "2016 AIME II Problems/Problem 1"

## Problem

Initially Alex, Betty, and Charlie had a total of $444$ peanuts. Charlie had the most peanuts, and Alex had the least. The three numbers of peanuts that each person had formed a geometric progression. Alex eats $5$ of his peanuts, Betty eats $9$ of her peanuts, and Charlie eats $25$ of his peanuts. Now the three numbers of peanuts each person has forms an arithmetic progression. Find the number of peanuts Alex had initially.

## Solution 1

Let $r$ be the common ratio, where $r>1$. We then have $ar-9-(a-5)=a(r-1)-4=ar^{2}-25-(ar-9)=ar(r-1)-16$. We now have, letting, subtracting the 2 equations, $ar^{2}+-2ar+a=12$, so we have $3ar=432,$ or $ar=144$, which is how much Betty had. Now we have $144+\dfrac{144}{r}+144r=444$, or $144(r+\dfrac{1}{r})=300$, or $r+\dfrac{1}{r}=\dfrac{25}{12}$, which solving for $r$ gives $r=\dfrac{4}{3}$, since $r>1$, so Alex had $\dfrac{3}{4} \cdot 144=\boxed{108}$ peanuts.

Let $a$ be Alex's peanuts and $k$ the common ratio. Then we have $a(k^2+k+1)=444$. Adding $k$ to both sides and factoring,

$$\frac{444}{a}+k=(k+1)^2$$

For the common difference, $ak=5-(a-5)=ak^2-25-(ak-9)$. Simplifying, $k^2-2k+1=\frac{12}{a}$. Factoring, $$(k-1)^2=\frac{12}{a}$$

$(k+1)^2-(k-1)^2=4k$, so $4k=\frac{444-20}{a}$. Then, $k=\frac{432}{3a}=\frac{432}{a}=\frac{144}{a}$. Substitute $k$ in $(k-1)^2=\frac{12}{a}$ to get $(\frac{144-a}{a})^2=\frac{12}{a}$. Simplifying, expanding, and applying the quadratic formula, $$a=150\pm\frac{\sqrt{300^2-4(144^2)}}{2}$$ Taking out $4^2\cdot3^2$ from under the radical leaves $$a=150\pm6\sqrt{625-576}=108, 192$$ Since Alex's peanut number was the lowest of the trio, and $3*192>444$, Alex initially had $\boxed{108}$ peanutes.

(Solution by BJHHar)

## Solution 3

Let the initial numbers of peanuts Alex, Betty and Charlie had be $a$, $b$, and $c$ respectively. Let the final numbers of peanuts, after eating, be $a'$, $b'$, and $c'$.

We are given that $a + b + c = 444$. Since a total of $5 + 9 + 25 = 39$ peanuts are eaten, we must have $a' + b' + c' = 444 - 39 = 405$. Since $a'$, $b'$, and $c'$ form an arithmetic progression, we have that $a' = b' - x$ and $c' = b' + x$ for some integer $x$. Substituting yields $3b' = 405$ and so $b' = 135$. Since Betty ate $9$ peanuts, it follows that $b = b' + 9 = 144$.

Since $a$, $b$, and $c$ form a geometric progression, we have that $a = \frac{b}{r}$ and $c = br$. Multiplying yields $ac = b^2 = 144^2$. Since $a + c = 444 - b = 300$, it follows that $a = 150 - \lambda$ and $c = 150 + \lambda$ for some integer $\lambda$. Substituting yields $(150-\lambda)(150+\lambda) = 144^2$, which expands and rearranges to $\lambda^2 = 150^2-144^2 = 42^2$. Since $\lambda > 0$, we must have $\lambda = 42$, and so $a = 150 - \lambda = \boxed{108}$.