Question

While multiplying three real numbers, Ashok took one of the numbers as 73 instead of 37. As a result, the product went up by 720. Then the minimum possible value of the sum of squares of the other two numbers is

Answer 1

Let the other two numbers be y and z.
As per the condition
73yz - 37yz = 720
Or 36yz=720
Or yz=20
Minimum possible sum of the squares of the other two numbers would occur when y = z i.e.
y = z = √20
Hence the required sum = 40.