Question Details

For integers π‘Ž, 𝑏 and 𝑐, what would be the minimum and maximum values respectively of π‘Ž + 𝑏 + 𝑐 if log |π‘Ž| + log |𝑏| + log |𝑐| = 0?

Options

A

-3 and 3

B

-1 and 1

C

-1 and 3

D

1 and 3

Correct Answer :

-3 and 3

Solution :

The correct option is -3 and 3.

To find the minimum and maximum values of the sum π‘Ž + 𝑏 + 𝑐, let us analyze the given equation:
log | a | + log | b | + log | c | = 0

Using the logarithmic property log(x) + log(y) + log(z) = log(x Β· y Β· z), we can combine the terms:
log ( | a | | b | | c | ) = 0

By taking the exponential of both sides (with respect to the base of the logarithm, typically 10 or e), we get:
| a | | b | | c | = 1

Since π‘Ž, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are restricted to be integers, their absolute values |π‘Ž|, |𝑏|, and |𝑐| must also be integers. The only way the product of three positive integers is equal to 1 is if each individual integer has an absolute value of 1.
Therefore, we must have:
| a | = 1 , | b | = 1 , | c | = 1

This implies that each of the variables π‘Ž, 𝑏, and 𝑐 can independently take the values of either -1 or 1:
a { - 1 , 1 } , b { - 1 , 1 } , c { - 1 , 1 }

Now, we find the range of values for the sum π‘Ž + 𝑏 + 𝑐:
1. Minimum Value: The sum is minimized when all three variables are chosen to be their smallest possible value, which is -1.
Minimum Sum = ( - 1 ) + ( - 1 ) + ( - 1 ) = - 3
2. Maximum Value: The sum is maximized when all three variables are chosen to be their largest possible value, which is 1.
Maximum Sum = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3

Thus, the minimum and maximum values of π‘Ž + 𝑏 + 𝑐 are -3 and 3, respectively.

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