Find all positive integer triplets where (1+1/x)(1+1/y)(1+1/z)=2

[anemone]

Find all triplets of positive integers $(x, y, z)$ such that $$\left( 1+\frac{1}{x} \right)\left( 1+\frac{1}{y} \right)\left( 1+\frac{1}{z} \right)=2$$.

 

[kaliprasad]

Re: Find all triplets of x, y and z

Find all triplets of positive integers $(x, y, z)$ such that $$\left( 1+\frac{1}{x} \right)\left( 1+\frac{1}{y} \right)\left( 1+\frac{1}{z} \right)=2$$.

Spoiler

(x,y,z ) = (2, 4, 15) , ( 2, 5, 9) , (2,6,7), (3,3,8) , ( 3,4,5) or any permutation of them

solved as

Spoiler

Without loss of generality we can choose x <=y <=z and ans shall be a permutation of if

Now x < 4 as (5/4)^3 < 2 ( it is 125/64)

x cannot be 1 as (1+1/y)(1+ 1/z) = 1 has no solution

so x = 2 or 3

if x = 2 we get

3/2(y+1)(z+1) = 2yz

Or 3(y+1)(z+1) = 4 yz

Or yz – 3y – 3z = 3
(y-3)(z-3) = 12 by adding 9 on both sides

( y-3)(z-3) = 1 * 12 or 2 * 6 or 3 * 4

So (x,y,z ) = (2, 4, 15) , ( 2, 5, 9) , (2,6,7)

if x = 3 we get

4/3(y+1)(z+1) = 2yz

Or 2(y+1)(z+1) = 3 yz

Or yz – 2y – 2z = 2
(y-2)(z-2) = 6

( y-2)(z-2) = 1 * 6 or 2 * 3

So (x,y,z ) = (3,3,8) , ( 3,4,5)

 

[anemone]

Re: Find all triplets of x, y and z

Spoiler

(x,y,z ) = (2, 4, 15) , ( 2, 5, 9) , (2,6,7), (3,3,8) , ( 3,4,5) or any permutation of them

solved as

Spoiler

Without loss of generality we can choose x <=y <=z and ans shall be a permutation of if

Now x < 4 as (5/4)^3 < 2 ( it is 125/64)

x cannot be 1 as (1+1/y)(1+ 1/z) = 1 has no solution

so x = 2 or 3

if x = 2 we get

3/2(y+1)(z+1) = 2yz

Or 3(y+1)(z+1) = 4 yz

Or yz – 3y – 3z = 3
(y-3)(z-3) = 12 by adding 9 on both sides

( y-3)(z-3) = 1 * 12 or 2 * 6 or 3 * 4

So (x,y,z ) = (2, 4, 15) , ( 2, 5, 9) , (2,6,7)

if x = 3 we get

4/3(y+1)(z+1) = 2yz

Or 2(y+1)(z+1) = 3 yz

Or yz – 2y – 2z = 2
(y-2)(z-2) = 6

( y-2)(z-2) = 1 * 6 or 2 * 3

So (x,y,z ) = (3,3,8) , ( 3,4,5)

Wow! I forgot to thank you explicitly for participating and also for your unique way of attacking the problem. What's worst is that I forgot completely how I approached it two months ago and I promise you to add my reply once I solved it because I could only tell at this point that I solved it differently than what you did. Sorry, kaliprasad!