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Swedish Mathematical Competition
2016 Swedish Mathematical Competition
5
5
Part of
2016 Swedish Mathematical Competition
Problems
(1)
a new multiplication table for 4 numbers : 1, 2, 3, 4
Source: 2016 Swedish Mathematical Competition p5
5/1/2021
Peter wants to create a new multiplication table for the four numbers
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
1, 2, 3, 4
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
in such a way that the product of two of them is also one of them. He wants also that
(
a
⋅
b
)
⋅
c
=
a
⋅
(
b
⋅
c
)
(a\cdot b)\cdot c = a\cdot (b\cdot c)
(
a
⋅
b
)
⋅
c
=
a
⋅
(
b
⋅
c
)
holds and that
a
b
≠
a
c
ab \ne ac
ab
=
a
c
and
b
a
≠
c
a
ba \ne ca
ba
=
c
a
and
b
≠
c
b \ne c
b
=
c
. Peter is successful in constructing the new table. In his new table,
1
⋅
3
=
2
1\cdot 3 = 2
1
⋅
3
=
2
and
2
⋅
2
=
4
2\cdot 2 = 4
2
⋅
2
=
4
. What is the product
3
⋅
1
3\cdot 1
3
⋅
1
according to Peter's table?
algebra