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Find all quadruples (x1,x2,x3,x4)(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4) of real numbers which are solutions of the following system of six equations:
x1+x2=x32+x42+6x3x4,x1+x3=x22+x42+6x2x4,x1+x4=x22+x32+6x2x3,x2+x3=x12+x42+6x1x4,x2+x4=x12+x32+6x1x3,x3+x4=x12+x22+6x1x2. \begin{align*} x_1 + x_2 &= x_3^2 + x_4^2 + 6x_3x_4, \\ x_1 + x_3 &= x_2^2 + x_4^2 + 6x_2x_4, \\ x_1 + x_4 &= x_2^2 + x_3^2 + 6x_2x_3, \\ x_2 + x_3 &= x_1^2 + x_4^2 + 6x_1x_4, \\ x_2 + x_4 &= x_1^2 + x_3^2 + 6x_1x_3, \\ x_3 + x_4 &= x_1^2 + x_2^2 + 6x_1x_2. \end{align*}

Solution

Subtracting the second equation from the first yields x2x3=x32x22+6x4(x3x2)x_2 - x_3 = x_3^2 - x_2^2 + 6x_4(x_3 - x_2), which we can factor as 0=(x3x2)(x3+x2+1+6x4)0 = (x_3 - x_2)(x_3 + x_2 + 1 + 6x_4). We see that x2=x3x_2 = x_3 or x2+x3+1+6x4=0x_2 + x_3 + 1 + 6x_4 = 0. Similarly, we also have either x2=x3x_2 = x_3 or x2+x3+1+6x1=0x_2 + x_3 + 1 + 6x_1 = 0. Hence, if x2x3x_2 \neq x_3, the second equality must hold in both cases; subtracting one from the other, we obtain x1=x4x_1 = x_4. We conclude that either x2=x3x_2 = x_3 or x1=x4x_1 = x_4. Analogously, we get for each permutation (i,j,k,l)(i, j, k, l) of (1,2,3,4)(1, 2, 3, 4) that either xi=xjx_i = x_j or xk=xlx_k = x_l.
We will prove that at least three of the xix_i must be equal. If all four are equal, this is true of course. Otherwise, there are two unequal ones, say x1x2x_1 \neq x_2 without loss of generality. Then we have x3=x4x_3 = x_4. If also x1=x3x_1 = x_3 holds, then there are three equal elements. Otherwise, we have x1x3x_1 \neq x_3, hence x2=x4x_2 = x_4 and we also get three equal elements. Up to order, the quadruple (x1,x2,x3,x4)(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4) is thus equal to a quadruple of the shape (x,x,x,y)(x, x, x, y), where we could have that x=yx = y.
Substituting this in the equations gives x+y=8x2x+y = 8x^2 and 2x=x2+y2+6xy2x = x^2 + y^2 + 6xy. Adding these two equations: 3x+y=9x2+y2+6xy3x + y = 9x^2 + y^2 + 6xy. The right hand side can be factored as (3x+y)2(3x + y)^2. Defining s=3x+ys = 3x + y, the equation becomes s=s2s = s^2, from which we get either s=0s = 0 or s=1s = 1. We have s=3x+y=2x+(x+y)=2x+8x2s = 3x + y = 2x + (x + y) = 2x + 8x^2. Hence, 8x2+2x=08x^2 + 2x = 0 or 8x2+2x=18x^2 + 2x = 1.
In the first case, we have x=0x = 0 or x=14x = -\frac{1}{4}. We find y=03x=0y = 0 - 3x = 0 and y=03x=34y = 0 - 3x = \frac{3}{4}, respectively. In the second case, we get the factorisation (4x1)(2x+1)=0(4x - 1)(2x + 1) = 0, hence x=14x = \frac{1}{4} or x=12x = -\frac{1}{2}. We find y=13x=14y = 1 - 3x = \frac{1}{4} or y=13x=52y = 1 - 3x = \frac{5}{2}, respectively.
Altogether, we found the following quadruples: (0,0,0,0)(0, 0, 0, 0), (14,14,14,34)(-\frac{1}{4}, -\frac{1}{4}, -\frac{1}{4}, \frac{3}{4}), (14,14,14,14)(\frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{4}) and (12,12,12,52)(-\frac{1}{2}, -\frac{1}{2}, -\frac{1}{2}, \frac{5}{2}), and permutations thereof. It is a simple computation to verify that all these quadruples are indeed solutions to the equations. \square

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