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Algebra Difficulty 7.9 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Determine the range of w(w+x)(w+y)(w+z)w(w + x)(w + y)(w + z), where x,y,zx, y, z, and ww are real numbers such that
x+y+z+w=x7+y7+z7+w7=0.x + y + z + w = x^7 + y^7 + z^7 + w^7 = 0.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Let x,y,z, x, y, z, and w w be real numbers such that they satisfy the equations:

x+y+z+w=0 x + y + z + w = 0
x7+y7+z7+w7=0. x^7 + y^7 + z^7 + w^7 = 0.

We are required to determine the range of the expression (w+x)(w+y)(w+z)(w) (w + x)(w + y)(w + z)(w) .

First, note that since x+y+z+w=0 x + y + z + w = 0 , we can express w w in terms of x,y, x, y, and z z :

w=(x+y+z). w = -(x + y + z).

Next, substitute w w into the expression P=(w+x)(w+y)(w+z)(w) P = (w + x)(w + y)(w + z)(w) :

P=((x+y+z)+x)((x+y+z)+y)((x+y+z)+z)((x+y+z)). P = (-(x + y + z) + x)(-(x + y + z) + y)(-(x + y + z) + z)(-(x + y + z)).

Simplify each factor:

w+x=(y+z), w + x = -(y + z),
w+y=(x+z), w + y = -(x + z),
w+z=(x+y), w + z = -(x + y),
w=(x+y+z). w = -(x + y + z).

Then:

P=((y+z))((x+z))((x+y))((x+y+z)). P = (-(y + z))(-(x + z))(-(x + y))(-(x + y + z)).

Since this is a product of four negative terms, P0 P \geq 0 .

Moreover, from the condition x7+y7+z7+w7=0 x^7 + y^7 + z^7 + w^7 = 0 , we know that:

x7+y7+z7+((x+y+z))7=0. x^7 + y^7 + z^7 + (-(x + y + z))^7 = 0.

Upon substitution:

(x+y+z)7=x7+y7+z7. -(x + y + z)^7 = x^7 + y^7 + z^7.

Thus, since all terms are positive by the power and sign symmetry of 7th powers, it implies:

x=y=z=w=0. x = y = z = w = 0.

Substitute back, all are zero, hence:

P=0. P = 0.

Thus, the range of the expression is 0 \boxed{0} .

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