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Find the number of ways to write 24 as the sum of at least three positive integer multiples of 3. For example, count 3+18+3, 18+3+3, and 3+6+3+9+3, but not 18+6 or 24.

help pls

1 Answer

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Okay, here are the steps to solve this problem:

1) 24 is divisible by 3. So any sum of 3 multiples of 3 that adds to 24 will have at least one multiple that is 6 (2 x 3) or 9 (3 x 3).

2) We can represent the multiples as: 3n, 3n+1, 3n+2 where n is an integer.

3) The 3n terms can only be 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21. The 3n+1 terms can be 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22. And 3n+2 terms can be 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23.

4) We need to count the number of combinations of these terms that add to 24. Some options are:

3 + 9 + 12 = 24

6 + 9 + 9 = 24

12 + 6 + 6 = 24

15 + 3 + 6 = 24

18 + 3 + 3 = 24

5) In total, there are 5 options with 3 terms.

6) Additionally, we could have 4 term sums like:

3 + 6 + 9 + 6 = 24

6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24

There are 2 four-term options.

7) In total, there are 5 + 2 = 7 number of ways to write 24 as a sum of at least 3 positive integer multiples of 3.

Does this help explain the steps? Let me know if you have any other questions!

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User Chris Droukas
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