For what real numbers are there positive numbers , , and such that
For those values of , determine the corresponding values of , and .
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Suppose, for a fixed , a solution to the four equations exists. Then, from the first equation, , and so . From the first equation in the second row, and so . Hence, if a solution exists, then, in the first instance, .
Furthermore, if , then , , whence also. Thus, one solution is , and .
On the other hand, if the two equations which involve imply , or equivalently, . Because the equation has at most one positive solution, this implies . From we easily obtain . Hence, if we need to have .
From now on we suppose . Clearly, satisfy the same quadratic equation . As , they form its two roots and so . Using this and the equations in the second row, we deduce that , whence and . Plugging this into the second equation in the first row, we deduce that
whence which simplifies to .
Thus, . For this value of , we obtain .
Solution 2
We consider the four variables , , and as unknowns. Subtracting the two equations in the first row we get . As , this is equivalent to . If , the two equations which involve imply . This can be rewritten as . As , this implies . From we easily obtain . The first equation implies then . So we have one solution: .
Assume now , then and the two equations in the second row imply , hence . The first equation in the second row now becomes from which we get and . Substituting this into the first equation yields which simplifies to . For we obtain in contradiction to our assumption. With we get and so the second solution is .