← Complete problem index

PROJECT EULER · #0478

Mixtures

Statement only · UnsolvedOriginal problem ↗

Let us consider mixtures of three substances: A, B and C. A mixture can be described by a ratio of the amounts of A, B, and C in it, i.e., (a:b:c). For example, a mixture described by the ratio (2:3:5) contains 20% A, 30% B and 50% C.

For the purposes of this problem, we cannot separate the individual components from a mixture. However, we can combine different amounts of different mixtures to form mixtures with new ratios.

For example, say we have three mixtures with ratios (3:0:2), (3:6:11) and (3:3:4). By mixing 10 units of the first, 20 units of the second and 30 units of the third, we get a new mixture with ratio (6:5:9), since:
(1035 + 20320+30310:1005+20620+30310:1025+201120+30410)=(18:15:27)=(6:5:9)

However, with the same three mixtures, it is impossible to form the ratio (3:2:1), since the amount of B is always less than the amount of C.

Let n be a positive integer. Suppose that for every triple of integers (a,b,c) with 0a,b,cn and gcd(a,b,c)=1, we have a mixture with ratio (a:b:c). Let M(n) be the set of all such mixtures.

For example, M(2) contains the 19 mixtures with the following ratios:

{(0:0:1),(0:1:0),(0:1:1),(0:1:2),(0:2:1),(1:0:0),(1:0:1),(1:0:2),(1:1:0),(1:1:1),(1:1:2),(1:2:0),(1:2:1),(1:2:2),(2:0:1),(2:1:0),(2:1:1),(2:1:2),(2:2:1)}.

Let E(n) be the number of subsets of M(n) which can produce the mixture with ratio (1:1:1), i.e., the mixture with equal parts A, B and C.
We can verify that E(1)=103, E(2)=520447, E(10)mod118=82608406 and E(500)mod118=13801403.
Find E(10000000)mod118.

Write-up coming later

The complete problem is available here. An approach, code, and answer will be added later.