Question

In the year 2001, the United States will host the International Mathematical Olympiad. Let I,M, and O be distinct positive integers such that the product I . M . O = 2001. What is the largest possible value of the sum I + M + O?

This has been explained on the website I found this on but I don't understand it too much, so could someone please elaborate on this, thanks.

Answer 1

Think of a rectangle. The maximal area is achieved when it is a square.

Similarly for a rectangular prism, the maximum volume is when it is a cube.

so, in this case, the sum is just 3∛2001