Obviously, for any value of y, x1=x2=x3=x4=x5=0
is a solution to the system of equations. Next, we seek the "non-trivial solutions" (i.e., at least one xi=0,i=1,2,3,4,5).
From (1) and (5), we get x2=yx1−x5x4=yx5−x1
From (2) and (4), we get x3=yx2−x1x3=yx4−x5
Substituting (6) and (7) into (8) and (9) respectively, we get x3=(y2−1)x1−yx5x3=(y2−1)x5−yx1
From (10) and (11), we get (y2−1)x1−yx5=(y2−1)x5−yx1
which simplifies to (y2+y−1)(x1−x5)=0. When y2+y−1=0, it must be that x1=x5. Similarly, we can get x1=x2,x2=x3,x3=x4, and so on. Thus, when y2+y−1=0, we have x1=x2=x3=x4=x5.
Substituting this result into any of equations (1) or (5), we get y=2. Clearly, y2+y−1=0 in this case.
Thus, when y=2, x1=x2=x3=x4=x5 is a non-trivial solution to the system of equations. When y2+y−1=0 and y=2, the system has only the trivial solution. When y2+y−1=0, from y2−1=−y, equation (10) gives x3=−y(x1+x5)
Also, from equations (6) and (7), we get x2=yx1−x5,x4=yx5−x1. Combining these, the solutions to the original system of equations are: (i) When y2+y−1=0 and y=2, the system has only the trivial solution x1=x2=x3=x4=x5=0 (ii) When y=2, the system has the solution x1=x2=x3=x4=x5=t, where t is any real number. (iii) When y2+y−1=0, the solutions to the system are ⎩⎨⎧x1=ux5=vx2=yu−vx3=−y(u+v)x4=yv−u
where u,v are any numbers, and y=2−1±5.
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