Categories

# Right Rectangular Prism | AIME I, 1995 | Question 11

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME I, 1995 based on Right Rectangular Prism.

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME I, 1995 based on Right Rectangular Prism.

## Right Rectangular Prism – AIME I, 1995

A right rectangular prism P (that is rectangular parallelopiped) has sides of integral length a,b,c with $a\leq b \leq c$, a plane parallel to one of the faces of P cuts P into two prisms, one of which is similar to P, and both of which has non-zero volume, given that b=1995, find number of ordered tuples (a,b,c) does such a plane exist.

• is 107
• is 40
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

Integers

Divisibility

Algebra

## Check the Answer

AIME I, 1995, Question 11

Geometry Vol I to IV by Hall and Stevens

## Try with Hints

Let Q be similar to P

Let sides of Q be x,y,z for $x \leq y \leq z$

then $\frac{x}{a}=\frac{y}{b}=\frac{z}{c} < 1$

As one face of Q is face of P

or, P and Q has at least two side lengths in common

or, x <a, y<b, z<c

or, y=a, z=b=1995

or, $\frac{x}{a}=\frac{a}{1995}=\frac{1995}{c}$

or, $ac=1995^{2}=(3)^{2}(5)^{2}(7)^{2}(19)^{2}$

or, number of factors of $(3)^{2}(5)^{2}(7)^{2}(19)^{2}$=(2+1)(2+1)(2+1)(2+1)=81

or, $[\frac{81}{2}]=40$ for a <c.