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Algebra Difficulty 4.8 AIME Prove it Ireland

Solve the equations
a+b+c=0,a2+b2+c2=1,a3+b3+c3=4abc a + b + c = 0, \quad a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 1, \quad a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = 4abc
for aa, bb, and cc.

Solution

So, suppose aa, bb, cc satisfy the given equations, and eliminate cc, say. Then, from the first, we deduce that
a3+b3+c3=a3+b3(a+b)3=a3+b3(a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3)=3ab(a+b)=3abc. \begin{aligned} a^3 + b^3 + c^3 &= a^3 + b^3 - (a + b)^3 \\ &= a^3 + b^3 - (a^3 + 3a^2b + 3ab^2 + b^3) \\ &= -3ab(a + b) \\ &= 3abc. \end{aligned}
This and the third equation forces abc=0abc = 0. Hence, one of aa, bb, cc is zero. Say c=0c = 0. Then, by the first and second equations, a=ba = -b, and 1=2a21 = 2a^2. Thus one solution is a=±1/2a = \pm 1/\sqrt{2}, b=1/2b = \mp 1/\sqrt{2}, c=0c = 0, and any permutation of this triple is a solution. Conversely, every such triple is a solution.

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