AlgebraDifficulty 5.0AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem: Find at least one non-zero polynomial P(x,y,z) such that P(a,b,c)=0 for every three real numbers that satisfy 3a+3b=3c.
Solution
Solution: Cube both sides of the condition 3x+3y=3z: x+33x3x3y+33x3y3y+y=z33x3x3y+3x3y3y=z−x−y33x3y(3x+3y)=z−x−y But since 3x+3y=3z 33x3y3z=z−x−y27xyz=(z−x−y)3 Hence P(x,y,z)=27xyz−(z−x−y)3 is one such polynomial.
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Source: MathNet,
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