Systems and Symmetry

Mathematical Tapas
Level C

When solving systems of equations, one faces quite often symmetric polynomial expressions. These are polynomial expressions f (a, b, c, ) in several
variables, which do no change when permuting the variables a, b, c, . For
example, a2 + b2 + c2 , ab + bc + ac + (a + b + c)2 are symmetric polynomial
expressions in a, b, c, since they obviously do not change when permuting a,
b, and c. If x1 , x2 , xn are variables, then there is a class of fundamental
symmetric expressions in x1 , x2 , , xn . They are given by the fundamental
symmetric sums.
X
k =
xi1 xi2 xik
1i1 <i2 <<ik n

Vietas Formulas

For any polynomial in the form

an xn + an1 xn1 + + a1 x + a0
with its roots being r1 , r2 , , rk , the possible subproducts of the roots are
X
ank
)
(1)k (
an
1i1 <i2 <<ik n

where it can be rewritten as the following

r1 + r2 + r3 + + rk =

an1
an

..
.
r1 r2 r3 rk = (1)n

ao
an

Symmetric Polynomial

Let p(x1 , x2 , , xk ) be a symmetric polynomial expression in x1 ,x2 , ,xn .

Then we can find a polynomial expression q(y1 , y2 , , yn ) such that
p(x1 , x2 , , xn ) = q(x1 , x2 , , xn )
where k = k (x1 , x2 , , xn ).
Simply less formally, any symmetric polynomial expression in x1 , x2 , , xn is
a polynomial expression in the fundamental symmetric sums 1 , 2 , , n , is
associated to x1 , x2 , , xn .

Newtons Identity

Let x1 , x2 , , xn be the solutions of the equation xn + a1 xn1 + a2 xn2 + +

an = 0, where a1 = a2 = = an are given real numbers. Define
Sk = xk1 + xk2 + + xkn
Then for all k 1, 2, , n we have the following
Sk + a1 Sk1 + + ak1 S1 + kak
while for all k > n we have
Sk + a1 Sk1 + + an Skn = 0

Discussion Problems
1. Express a2 (b+c)+b2 (a+c)+c2 (a+b) in terms of a+b+c and ab+ac+bc.

2. Pairwise distinct real numbers satisfy

a(a2 abc) = b(b2 abc) = c(c2 abc)
Prove that a + b + c = 0.

3. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the function x2 + 3x + 1. Compute

(

x1 2
x2 2
) +(
)
x2 + 1
x1 + 1

without finding the roots of the original function.

4. Let a, b, and c be the solutions of the equation x3 x 1 = 0. Compute

1a 1b 1c
+
+
1+a 1+b 1+c

5. Let x1 , x2 , and x3 be the roots of the polynomial x3 + 3x + 1. Compute

x21
x22
x23
+
+
(5x2 + 1)(5x3 + 1) (5x1 + 1)(5x3 + 1) (5x1 + 1)(5x2 + 1)

6. Let a, b, c, and d be positive integers such that the equation

x2 (a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 + 1)x + (ab + bc + cd + ad) = 0
has an integer solution. Prove that the other solution is an integer too
and both solutions are perfect squares.

7. The equation x4 18x3 + kx2 + 200x 1984 = 0 has two solutions whose
product is 32. Find k.

8. Let A, B be real numbers and let a, b, and c be the solutions of the

equation x3 + Ax + B = 0. Prove that
(a b)2 (b c)2 (c a)2 = (4A3 + 27B 2 )

9. Solve in real numbers of the system

1
3
1
y z2 z =
6

x y2 z =

10. Find all triples (x, y, z) of real numbers satisfying the system of equations
2x z 2 = 7
4y x2 = 7
6z y 2 = 14

11. Find all real numbers x, y such that

x3 3xy 2 + 2y 3 = 2011
2x3 3x2 y + y 3 = 2012

12. Solve in real numbers of the system

x2 yz + xz + xy = 9
y 2 xz + xy + yz = 19
z 2 xy + yz + xz = 30

13. Find all triples (x, y, z) of real numbers such that

(x + y)(x + y + z) = 72
(y + z)(x + y + z) = 96
(x + z)(x + y + z) = 120

14. Solve in real numbers

2x2 + 3xy 4y 2 = 1
3x2 + 4xy 5y 2 = 2

15. Find all positive real numbers x, y, and z such that

x+

1
=4
y

4
=3
z
9
z+ =5
z

y+

16. Find all pairs (x, y) of real numbers satisfying

x2 xy = 90
y 2 xy = 9

17. Find all triples (x, y, z) of positive integers satisfying the system of equations
x + yz = 2011
xy + z = 2012

18. Find all triples (x, y, z) of positive real numbers such that
xy
1
=
x+y
5
1
yz
=
y+z
8
xz
1
=
x+z
9

19. If a, b, and c are real numbers such that

(a b)(a + b c) = 3
(b c)(b + c a) = 5
find (c a)(c + a b).

20. Solve in real numbers the system of equations

x2 + 6xy + 2y 2 = 1
y 2 + 6yz + 2z 2 = 2
z 2 + 6xz + 2z 2 = 3

21. Solve in real numbers the system of equations

xyz
= 2
x+y
xyz
=3
y+z
xyz
=6
x+z

22. Find all real numbers x, y, and z such that

x2 3 = (y z)2
y 2 5 = (x z)2
z 2 15 = (x y)2

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23. Solve in real numbers of the system of equations

x(y 2 + xz) = 111
y(z 2 + xy) = 155
z(x2 + yz) = 116

24. Solve in real numbers the system of equations

x y = 2016
x+y
xy = 72
2

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25. Solve in real numbers the system of equations

x2 + y = 5y 6z
y 2 + 7 = 10z + 3z
z 2 + 7 = 3y x

26. Solve in real numbers the system of eqations

x2 + xy + xz = 20
y 2 + xy + yz = 30
z 2 + xz + yz = 50

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27. Solve in nonzero complex numbers the system

x y
9
+ =
y
x
z
y
z
16
+ =
z
y
x
z
x
25
+ =
x z
y

28. Let a, b, c be nonzero numbers such that a2 + b2 = c2 . Solve the system

x2 + y 2 = z 2
(x + a)2 + (y + b)2 = (z + c)2

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