Let x, y, z be pairwise distinct real numbers such that x2−1/y=y2−1/z=z2−1/x. Given z2−1/x=a, prove that (x+y+z)xyz=−a2.(I. Voronovich)
Solution
First, note that a=0, x=−y, etc. (this easily follows from the given relation). Now, the equality x2−1/y=y2−1/z can be written in two other ways: x2−y2+x1−y1(x−y)(x2+xy−y1)=x1−z1⇔(x−y)(x+y−xy1)=xzz−x=zz−x⇔(x−y)(a+xy)=zz−x(1) and x2−y2−x1−y1(x+y)(x2−xy−y1)=x1−z1⇔(x+y)(x−y−xy1)=−xzz+x=−zz+x.(2) Now, multiplying (1) by two similar equalities and reducing by (x−y)(y−z)(z−x)=0, we obtain (a+xy)(a+yz)(a+zx)=xyz1 a3+a2(xy+yz+zx)+a(x+y+z)xyz+(xyz)2=xyz1.(3) Proceeding similarly with (2), we obtain a3−a2(xy+yz+zx)+a(x+y+z)xyz−(xyz)2=−xyz1.(4) Summing (3) and (4) and reducing by 2a=0, we obtain the required equality.
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