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Algebra Difficulty 6.5 National olympiad Find the answer

Let aa, bb, cc be real numbers such that a2+b=c2a^2+b=c^2, b2+c=a2b^2+c=a^2, c2+a=b2c^2+a=b^2. Find all possible values of abcabc.

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

Solution

Given the equations:

a2+b=c2, a^2 + b = c^2,

b2+c=a2, b^2 + c = a^2,

c2+a=b2, c^2 + a = b^2,

we are tasked with finding all possible values of abcabc.

### Step 1: Analyze the System of Equations

Let's add all three equations:

(a2+b)+(b2+c)+(c2+a)=c2+a2+b2. (a^2 + b) + (b^2 + c) + (c^2 + a) = c^2 + a^2 + b^2.

Simplifying the left-hand side, we have:

a2+b+b2+c+c2+a. a^2 + b + b^2 + c + c^2 + a.

This gives us:

a2+b2+c2+a+b+c. a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + a + b + c.

Thus the equation simplifies to:

a2+b2+c2+a+b+c=a2+b2+c2. a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + a + b + c = a^2 + b^2 + c^2.

This simplifies further to:

a+b+c=0. a + b + c = 0.

### Step 2: Substitution and Solving

Using the relation a+b+c=0a + b + c = 0, solve for one of the variables, for instance:

c=ab. c = -a - b.

Substitute c=abc = -a - b into the original equations to check consistency:

1. From a2+b=c2a^2 + b = c^2:

a2+b=(ab)2=a2+2ab+b2. a^2 + b = (-a-b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

Simplifying, we get:

b=2ab+b2. b = 2ab + b^2.

2. From b2+c=a2b^2 + c = a^2:

b2ab=a2. b^2 - a - b = a^2.

3. From c2+a=b2c^2 + a = b^2:

a2+2ab+b2+a=b2. a^2 + 2ab + b^2 + a = b^2.

### Step 3: Simplifying the System

Given the symmetry of the equations and substituting a+b+c=0a + b + c = 0, this suggests that one or more of a,b,ca, b, c could be zero. Suppose any of a,b,a, b, or cc is zero; without loss of generality, let's assume b=0b = 0. Then, we quickly check:

1. a2=c2a^2 = c^2 gives a=±ca = \pm c.

2. b2+c=a2b^2 + c = a^2 gives c=a2c = a^2.

3. c2+a=0c^2 + a = 0.

These result in contradictions unless similarly a=0a = 0 or c=0c = 0. Therefore, the only valid solution is that abc=0abc = 0 when at least one of the variables should be zero.

### Conclusion

From steps outlined above, the only possible value of abcabc that satisfies the conditions is:

0. \boxed{0}.

This solution method verifies that assuming any of the variables to zero holds under the condition a+b+c=0a + b + c = 0, indicating the necessity of one of a,b,ca, b, c being zero to satisfy the original equations.

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