Question:medium

For natural numbers x,y, and z, if xy+yz=19 and yz+xz=51, then the minimum possible value of xyz is

Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
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Correct Answer: 34

Solution and Explanation

Given:

\[ y(x + z) = 19 \quad \text{and} \quad z(x + y) = 51 \]

From the first equation, \( y(x + z) = 19 \). Assuming \( y = 1 \) for simplicity, we get \( x + z = 19 \).

Substitute \( y = 1 \) into the second equation: \( z(x + 1) = 51 \).

Since \( x = 19 - z \), substitute this into the second equation: \( z(19 - z + 1) = 51 \), which simplifies to \( z(20 - z) = 51 \).

Expanding this gives \( 20z - z^2 = 51 \), or \( z^2 - 20z + 51 = 0 \).

Solving the quadratic equation for \( z \):

\[ z = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{(-20)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 51}}{2} = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{400 - 204}}{2} = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{196}}{2} = \frac{20 \pm 14}{2} \]

The possible values for \( z \) are:

  • \( z = \frac{20 + 14}{2} = 17 \)
  • \( z = \frac{20 - 14}{2} = 3 \)

Now, we calculate \( xyz \) for each case:

Case 1: \( z = 3 \)

If \( z = 3 \), then \( x = 19 - 3 = 16 \), and \( y = 1 \). The product \( xyz = 1 \cdot 16 \cdot 3 = 48 \).

Case 2: \( z = 17 \)

If \( z = 17 \), then \( x = 19 - 17 = 2 \), and \( y = 1 \). The product \( xyz = 1 \cdot 2 \cdot 17 = 34 \).

Conclusion:

The minimum value of \( xyz \) is: \[ \boxed{34} \]

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