AlgebraDifficulty 5.2Prove itSouth-Afrika · South Africa · 2011
Solve the system of equations: xy=x+y; x2+y2=1
This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.
We are trying to solve the equations xy=x+y 1=x2+y2.
Squaring both sides of xy=x+y and using x2+y2=1 to simplify gives x2y2=x2+2xy+y2=1+2xy⇒(xy)2−2(xy)−1=0. This gives xy=1±2 or y=x1±2. Notice that from equation xy=x+y, we can write y=x−1x. Combining this with the previous result gives x2−x(1±2)+1±2=0. If x2−x(1+2)+1+2=0, then x=2(1+2)±(1+2)2−4(1+2)=2(1+2)±−1−22. which is non-real. If x2−x(1−2)+1−2=0, then x=2(1−2)±(1−2)2−4(1−2)=2(1−2)±22−1. This presents a viable solution. Notice that if (x,y) is a solution, then (y,x) is also a solution. The two roots of the above equation are the desired values (since they satisfy equation xy=x+y by Vieta's formulas) and we can have (x,y)=(y,x)=(r1,r2) where r1=21−2+22−1andr2=21−2−22−1.
Source: MathNet,
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