All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Numbers
Heiro's Wager (Posted on 2010-09-08) Difficulty: 3 of 5

Heiro: Good morning, Archimedes! I bet you 1000 drachma that you can’t answer a simple maths problem!

Archimedes: You’re on.

Heiro: Did you know that every sum of consecutive cubes is also a difference of squares?

Archimedes: Indeed, as everyone knows, each and every sum of consecutive cubes is also a difference of consecutive squares. Was that the question?

Heiro: Not so fast, Archimedes! What if the sum and difference are a prime number?

Archimedes (yawning): Unlikely, since any sum of cubes has at least two factors…

Heiro: Let’s make it a difference of consecutive cubes, then?

Archimedes: There is no reason why such a difference should not be prime, as often as occasion demands. For example, 2^3-1^3 = 7. Have I won yet?

Heiro: I'm just working up to it. What about a difference of consecutive cubes, which is not only prime, but is also a sum of consecutive squares?

Archimedes: Too easy! 61 = 5^3-4^3=5^2+6^2. Can I have my money now?

Heiro: Very well, then, here's my question – just to make it interesting, let’s also stipulate that a side of the larger cube must have at least 4 distinct prime factors – so it must be at least 2*3*5*7 = 210, say? Just how big would that cube have to be?

Archimedes: Easy again! – or is it? Wait a minute…

What is the answer to Heiro’s simple problem?

See The Solution Submitted by broll    
Rating: 4.0000 (1 votes)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
re: first fourbroll2010-09-09 01:51:42
first fourDaniel2010-09-08 23:01:30
Some Thoughtsnot getting farCharlie2010-09-08 18:39:41
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (14)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information