Suppose , , are complex numbers such that . Prove that
Solution
Let and . From we obtain
and , i.e.,
Also
and so
whence
Hence
\begin{align*}
(a-b)^2 (b-c)^2 (c-a)^2 &= \det \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ a & b & c \\ a^2 & b^2 & c^2 \end{pmatrix} \cdot \det \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a & a^2 \\ 1 & b & b^2 \\ 1 & c & c^2 \end{pmatrix} \\
&= \det \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ a & b & c \\ a^2 & b^2 & c^2 \end{pmatrix} \cdot \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a & a^2 \\ 1 & b & b^2 \\ 1 & c & c^2 \end{pmatrix} \\
&= \det \begin{pmatrix} 3 & 0 & 2p \\ 0 & 2p & 3q \\ 2p & 3q & 2p^2 \end{pmatrix} \\
&= 3(4p^3 - 9q^2) - 8p^3 \\
&= 4p^3 - 27q^2 \\
&= \frac{1}{2}(a^2 + b^2 + c^2)^3 - 27a^2b^2c^2.
\end{align*}
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