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2025 AMC 10B Problem 9

Problem 9 of 25EasierAlgebraNumber TheoryProblem-Solving Techniques

How many ordered triples of integers (x,y,z)(x, y, z) satisfy the following system of inequalities? −x−y−z≤−2-x - y - z \le -2 −x+y+z≤2-x + y + z \le 2 x−y+z≤2x - y + z \le 2 x+y−z≤2x + y - z \le 2

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Solution

Let p=−x+y+z,p = -x + y + z, q=x−y+z,q = x - y + z, r=x+y−z.r = x + y - z. The last three inequalities say p,q,r≤2,p, q, r \le 2, the first says x+y+z≥2,x + y + z \ge 2, and p+q+r=x+y+z.p + q + r = x + y + z. Since x=q+r2x = \tfrac{q + r}{2} and so on, p,q,rp, q, r must all share the same parity. Now count triples with each part ≤2,\le 2, equal parity, and sum in [2,6].[2, 6]. The even ones are (2,2,2),(2,2,2), the permutations of (2,2,0),(2,2,0), of (2,0,0),(2,0,0), and of (2,2,−2),(2,2,-2), giving 10.10. The only odd one is (1,1,1).(1,1,1). That’s 1111 in all, and each yields a unique (x,y,z).(x, y, z). Thus, C is the correct answer.
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Tagged: substitution · parity · systematic listing

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