Problem: If a, b, c, x are real numbers such that abc=0 and axb+(1−x)c=bxc+(1−x)a=cxa+(1−x)b then prove that either a+b+c=0 or a=b=c.
Solution
Solution: Suppose a+b+c=0 and let the common value be λ. Then λ=a+b+cxb+(1−x)c+xc+(1−x)a+xa+(1−x)b=1 We get two equations: −a+xb+(1−x)c=0,(1−x)a−b+xc=0 (The other equation is a linear combination of these two.) Using these two equations, we get the relations 1−x+x2a=x2−x+1b=(1−x)2+xc Since 1−x+x2=0, we get a=b=c.
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