Problem:
For how many quadruples of non-negative integers are the three expressions , and all equal to ?
Problem:
For how many quadruples of non-negative integers are the three expressions , and all equal to ?
Pick one
Solution:
The answer is (B). Let us write the three equations in the form , and . Note that and cannot be zero, since . Comparing the first and third equations we then get , which substituted into the second gives , from which ; subtracting (term by term) this equation from we find . The numbers and are therefore either both equal to zero, or of opposite sign; since by hypothesis and are both non-negative, we must then have . The initial system therefore reduces to the equations , , which admit as the unique solution in non-negative integers the quadruple .