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Edge Numbered Cube (Posted on 2008-03-19) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Can you assign twelve distinct positive integers, one to each edge of a cube, so that the sum of the three numbers assigned to the edges forming a vertex is always the same, and the total sum of the assigned numbers is minimized?

For referencing purposes, let the cube have vertices with coordinates: A(0,0,0), B(1,0,0), C(1,1,0), D(0,1,0), E(0,0,1), F(1,0,1), G(1,1,1), and H(0,1,1), so that the edges are: AB, BC, CD, DA, EF, FG, GH, HE, AE, BF, CG, and DH.

  Submitted by Dennis    
Rating: 4.5000 (2 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Let S and V represent the sum of all assigned numbers and the sum of the three numbers assigned to the edges forming any vertex, respectively.

Since the assigned numbers are distinct positive integers, S >= 78. But 8V = 2S --> S is a multiple of 4 so S >= 80.

Now S = 80 --> using the numbers {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,14} or {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13} and V must equal 20.

By assigning the largest and smallest numbers in each set to edges forming the same vertex, and using some trial and error, the two following solutions are readily found:

AB=11,BC=2,CD=14,DA=1,EF=3,FG=10,GH=6,HE=9,AE=8,BF=7,CG=4,DH=5
AB=12,BC=5,CD=13,DA=1,EF=9,FG=8,GH=10,HE=4,AE=7,BF=3,CG=2,DH=6

Charlie's computer solution found six distinct assignments using these number sets.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Solutioncomputer solution (spoiler)Charlie2008-03-19 18:41:48
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