Subtracting the second equation from the first yields x2−x3=x32−x22+6x4(x3−x2), which we can factor as 0=(x3−x2)(x3+x2+1+6x4). We see that x2=x3 or x2+x3+1+6x4=0. Similarly, we also have either x2=x3 or x2+x3+1+6x1=0. Hence, if x2=x3, the second equality must hold in both cases; subtracting one from the other, we obtain x1=x4. We conclude that either x2=x3 or x1=x4. Analogously, we get for each permutation (i,j,k,l) of (1,2,3,4) that either xi=xj or xk=xl.
We will prove that at least three of the xi must be equal. If all four are equal, this is true of course. Otherwise, there are two unequal ones, say x1=x2 without loss of generality. Then we have x3=x4. If also x1=x3 holds, then there are three equal elements. Otherwise, we have x1=x3, hence x2=x4 and we also get three equal elements. Up to order, the quadruple (x1,x2,x3,x4) is thus equal to a quadruple of the shape (x,x,x,y), where we could have that x=y.
Substituting this in the equations gives x+y=8x2 and 2x=x2+y2+6xy. Adding these two equations: 3x+y=9x2+y2+6xy. The right hand side can be factored as (3x+y)2. Defining s=3x+y, the equation becomes s=s2, from which we get either s=0 or s=1. We have s=3x+y=2x+(x+y)=2x+8x2. Hence, 8x2+2x=0 or 8x2+2x=1.
In the first case, we have x=0 or x=−41. We find y=0−3x=0 and y=0−3x=43, respectively. In the second case, we get the factorisation (4x−1)(2x+1)=0, hence x=41 or x=−21. We find y=1−3x=41 or y=1−3x=25, respectively.
Altogether, we found the following quadruples: (0,0,0,0), (−41,−41,−41,43), (41,41,41,41) and (−21,−21,−21,25), and permutations thereof. It is a simple computation to verify that all these quadruples are indeed solutions to the equations. □