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Algebra Difficulty 5.1 AIME, harder Find the answer

If the system of equations x+y=99xy=c\begin{aligned} & |x+y|=99 \\ & |x-y|=c \end{aligned} has exactly two real solutions (x,y)(x, y), find the value of cc.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

If c<0c<0, there are no solutions. If c>0c>0 then we have four possible systems of linear equations given by x+y=±99,xy=±cx+y= \pm 99, x-y= \pm c, giving four solutions (x,y)(x, y). So we must have c=0c=0, and then we do get two solutions ( x=yx=y, so they must both equal ±99/2\pm 99 / 2 ).

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