Write 1729 as the sum of two cubes

  • Thread starter Thread starter albertrichardf
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sum
AI Thread Summary
1729 can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in multiple ways, specifically as 12^3 + 1^3 and 9^3 + 10^3. The equation x^3 + (7 - x)^3 = 1729 is central to solving for x, which is a non-integer. Participants in the discussion emphasize the importance of factoring and utilizing the relationships between the terms in the equations. Corrections and clarifications are made regarding the algebraic expressions involved, leading to further exploration of potential solutions. The conversation highlights the need to leverage the provided information effectively to find the value of x.
albertrichardf
Messages
165
Reaction score
11

Homework Statement


##1729## can be written as ##12^3 + 1^3## and ##9^3 + 10^3## and ##7(10 + 9)(12 + 1)##. If
##x^3 + (7 - x)^3 = 1729##, use the above to find ##x##. ##x## is a non-integer

Homework Equations


##1729 = 12^3 + 1^3 = 9^3 + 10^3 = 7(10 + 9)(12 + 1) = x^3 + (7 - x)^3##

The Attempt at a Solution


I used the last equation (the one with x in it) and equated it to 1729 to solve for ##x##. But I need to solve the question without a calculator, and I need to use the information given in the question, which I did not.
I noticed that the 3rd form equation ## 1729 = 7(10 + 9)(12 + 1)## contains the same terms as those in the cubes, ##(12 + 1)## for ##(12^3 + 1^3)## and ##(10 + 9)## for ##(10^3 + 9^3)##. I think this is important, but I have no idea of how to use this information.
Thank you for helping
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Do you remember how to factor ##(a^3 + b^3)##? Try that and see where it goes.
 
  • Like
Likes Chestermiller
I obtain the following:

##1729 = 7(9 + 10)(12 + 1) = 7(x^2 - x(7 - x) + (7-x)^2) = (12 + 1)(12^2 - 12 + 1) = (9 + 10)(9^2 - 90 + 10^2)##

Edit: wrongly wrote a term
 
Last edited:
Albertrichardf said:
7(x2−x(7−x)+72)
I think you mean (7-x)2 as the last term.
 
Oh yes. Sorry. Thank you for correcting me
 
Albertrichardf said:
I obtain the following:

##1729 = 7(9 + 10)(12 + 1) = 7(x^2 - x(7 - x) + (7-x)^2) = (12 + 1)(12^2 - 12 + 1) = (9 + 10)(9^2 - 90 + 10^2)##

Edit: wrongly wrote a term
Now that you have made that correction, how well are you progressing toward a solution?
 
Have you tried what Khashishi suggested in post #2?
 
Chestermiller said:
Have you tried what Khashishi suggested in post #2?
Isn't that what led to post #3?
 
haruspex said:
Isn't that what led to post #3?
I thought he meant $$(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)$$
 
  • #10
I would have set this up differently.
$$(a+b)[(a+b)^2-3ab]=n[n^2-3x(n-x)]$$where n is a factor of 1729.
 
  • #11
Albertrichardf said:
7(9+10)(12+1)=7(x2−x(7−x)+(7−x)2)
What is an obvious step from there?
 
Back
Top