2
$\begingroup$

Find all $n\in\mathbb N$ such that by removing the last $3$ digits of $n$, $\sqrt[3]{n}$ is obtained.

I found that $n=32768$ is a solution. Is there any other of $n$? It'll be best if no computer is used. Thank you.

  • 2
    It should be pretty easy to figure out how many digits the answer can have, and from there it's a smallish amount of trial-and-error.2012-11-07
  • 0
    @ Dan Brumleve: It means that the new number obtained is $\sqrt[3]{n}$.2012-11-07

2 Answers 2

7

Focus instead on the cube root $m$. It must satisfy $$1000m\le m^3<1000(m+1).$$ From the first inequality, get $m^2\ge 1000$, i.e., $m\ge32$. Notice that $m=33$ violates the second inequality ($33^3=35937>34000$), and this gets worse with larger $m$. So $m=32$ is the only solution.

  • 0
    If you notice, he is referring to $m^{3}$ where $m=32$. That's the reverse of your notation.2012-11-07
  • 0
    @GregRos: I don't understand your objection. Am I not saying the same thing? $m=\sqrt[3]{n}$, or $n=m^3$. I just find it easier to work with $m$ than with $n$.2012-11-07
  • 0
    I'm sorry, I was responding to a comment that may have been deleted. It said, "but 32 has no cube root." I was trying to explain that, indeed, it is the same thing.2012-11-07
  • 0
    @GregRos: Ah, that makes sense. I hate it when people to that, leaving later comments hanging there without context.2012-11-07
0

A cube root has a third as many digits and only $3$ are subtracted, so further candidates will be quickly outruled by a computational search.