\(a^2-b^2 = -280,~a+b=20\\ (a-b)(a+b)=-280\\ (a-b)(20) = -280\\ (a-b)=-14\\ (a+b)=20\\ 2a=6\\ a=3,~b=17\)
\(\sqrt{x}^{\sqrt{x}^{\sqrt{x}^{\dots}}}=2\\ (\sqrt{x})^2 = 2\\ x = 2\)
\(\dfrac{5b+6}{b+6} = \dfrac{4b}{b+6}+1 \in \mathbb{N}\\ \dfrac{4b}{b+6}\in \mathbb{N}\\ \dfrac{4}{1+\frac 6 b} \in \mathbb{N}\\ 1+\dfrac 6 b = 4, 2\\ b=2,~6\)
\(\text{To find the two 5 digit numbers with the smallest product simply choose the smallest}\\ \text{available digit alternately forming the two factors}\\ f_1 = 10468\\ f_2 = 23579\)
\(\text{Assuming no replacement, any set of 4 numbers can be arranged into a decreasing sequence}\\ \text{thus there are }\dbinom{1000}{4} \text{ strictly decreasing length 4 sequences using 1-1000}\\ \text{there are }\dbinom{1000}{4}4! \text{ total length 4 sequences}\\ \text{thus the probability of being strictly decreasing is }\\ p = \dfrac{\dbinom{1000}{4}}{\dbinom{1000}{4}4!}= \dfrac{1}{24}\)
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