(a x a) x 2 = (a + 5) x 81
Math brain teasers require computations to solve.
I have an integer which, when squared and then multiplied by two is equal to that integer five higher than it multiplied by eighty one.
(a x a) x 2 = (a + 5) x 81
What is my number?
HintSquare a number and then multiply it by two. Divide your answer by the number five higher than it and if the answer is less than 81 it is too low. If the answer is more than 81 it is too high.
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Answer
My number is 45.
(a = 45)
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Comments
Dazza
Jun 18, 2002
| -4.5 is a solution too. |
WizardMagus
Jun 19, 2002
| I was about to say that too... |
cleverclogs
Jun 26, 2002
| Sorry, I didn't realise... |
dumbell
Sep 13, 2002
| Don't be sorry. This shows that people aredoing the math, and not just clicking on answer, then rating to get points. It is still a nice teaser |
fishmed  
Jul 02, 2003
| I apparently had an error in my math and got nowhere. good one. |
Sane 
Mar 13, 2005
| (a * a) * 2 = (a + 5) * 81
2a x 2a = 81a + 405
2a^2 = 81a + 405
(2a^2)/2 = (81a + 405)/2
a^2 = 40.5a + 202.5
a = 1
b = 40.5
c = 202.5
x = -b{+/-}[b^2 - 4ac]^1/2 / 2a
x = -40.5{+/-}[1640.25 - 810]^1/2 / 2
x = -40.5{+/-}[28.8140509] / 2
(a - 69.3140509)(a - 11.6859491) = 0
or, a = 40.5 + 202.5/a
I don't understand, is there any real way to solve this thing?  I must be missing something simple! |
dishu 
Jun 06, 2006
| Yes sane there is:
solve your equation 2a^2 = 81a+405 as follows:
2a^2-81a-405=0
=> 2a^2 -90a+9a-405=0
=> 2a(a-45)+9(a-45)=0
=> (2a+9)(a-45)=0
=> 2a + 9 =0 or a-45=0
=> a=-4.5 or a=45 |
pating
Jun 19, 2007
| Sane, your quadratic formula can always give you the correct answers. but you can always use factoring.
2a^2 = 81a + 405
2a^2 - 81a - 405 = 0
get the possible factors of 2 (from 2a^2), which is 2 and 1.
get the possible factors of -405, there are many like -81 and 5, -9 and 45, etc.
so you'll get :
(2a + 9)(a - 45) = 0
2a = -9; a = -4.5
or a = 45
this kind of solution gets easier through practice. and its the one being taught first before they give you the quadratic formula (at least in our math class). when all possible combinations fail, you can't go wrong with the quadratic formula. |
Jimbo
May 06, 2009
| I liked Dishu's solution except he didn't explain how he got the (-90a + 9a) combination. It's called the sum and product method. Incidentally, I'm not sure whether the teaser has been edited but it currently asks for an integer which rules out -4.5 as a solution. As far as this being a teaser, it's question 2 part (a) from the year 9 (junior high) algebra textbook as far as I'm concerned.  |
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