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Algebra Difficulty 4.6 AIME Prove it Austria

Let xx, yy, zz be nonzero real numbers with
x+yz=y+zx=z+xy. \frac{ x + y }{ z } = \frac{ y + z }{ x } = \frac{ z + x }{ y }.
Determine all possible values of
(x+y)(y+z)(z+x)xyz. \frac{ (x + y)(y + z)(z + x) }{ xyz }.

Solution

*Answer.* The only possible values are 88 and 1-1.

We add 11 to the equations and obtain
x+y+zz=x+y+zx=x+y+zy. \frac{ x + y + z }{ z } = \frac{ x + y + z }{ x } = \frac{ x + y + z }{ y }.
For x+y+z=0x + y + z = 0, this is clearly true, and the expression in the problem statement becomes
(z)(x)(y)xyz=1. \frac{ (-z)(-x)(-y) }{ xyz } = -1.
For x+y+z0x + y + z \neq 0, we get
1z=1x=1y. \frac{ 1 }{ z } = \frac{ 1 }{ x } = \frac{ 1 }{ y }.
and therefore x=y=zx = y = z.
In this case, our expression becomes 88.
The values 1-1 and 88 are attained because any triple with x+y+z=0x + y + z = 0 resp. x=y=zx = y = z that does not contain a zero works.
(Theresia Eisenkölbl) ☐

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