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Algebra Difficulty 5.1 AIME, harder Find the answer

Compute all ordered triples (x,y,z)(x, y, z) of real numbers satisfying the following system of equations: xy+z=40xz+y=51x+y+z=19\begin{aligned} x y+z & =40 \\ x z+y & =51 \\ x+y+z & =19 \end{aligned}

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

Solution

Solution 1: By adding the first two equations, we can get xy+z+xz+y=(x+1)(y+z)=91x y+z+x z+y=(x+1)(y+z)=91 From the third equation we have (x+1)+(y+z)=19+1=20(x+1)+(y+z)=19+1=20 so x+1x+1 and y+zy+z are the two roots of t220t+91=0t^{2}-20 t+91=0 by Vieta's theorem. As the quadratic equation can be decomposed into (t7)(t13)=0(t-7)(t-13)=0 we know that either x=6,y+z=13x=6, y+z=13 or x=12,y+z=7x=12, y+z=7. - If x=12x=12, by the first equation we have 12y+z=4012 y+z=40, and substituting y+z=7y+z=7 we have 11y=3311 y=33, y=3y=3 and z=4z=4. - If x=6x=6, by the first equation we have 6y+z=406 y+z=40, and substituting y+z=13y+z=13 we have 5y=275 y=27, y=5.4y=5.4 and z=7.6z=7.6. Hence, the two solutions are (12,3,4)(12,3,4) and (6,5.4,7.6)(6,5.4,7.6). Solution 2: Viewing xx as a constant, the equations become three linear equations in two variables yy and zz. This system can only have a solution if det[x1401x511119x]=0\operatorname{det}\left[\begin{array}{ccc} x & 1 & 40 \\ 1 & x & 51 \\ 1 & 1 & 19-x \end{array}\right]=0 Expanding out the determinant, we have x2(19x)+51+4051x40x(19x)=0x319x2+90x72=0(x1)(x218x+72)=0(x1)(x6)(x12)=0\begin{aligned} & x^{2}(19-x)+51+40-51 x-40 x-(19-x)=0 \\ & \quad \Longrightarrow x^{3}-19 x^{2}+90 x-72=0 \\ & \quad \Longrightarrow(x-1)\left(x^{2}-18 x+72\right)=0 \\ & \Longrightarrow(x-1)(x-6)(x-12)=0 \end{aligned} so x=1,6x=1,6, or 12. If x=1x=1, the system has no solutions, and if x=6x=6 or 12, we can find yy and zz as in the first solution.

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.