Cubic Diophantine

If x x and y y are positive rational numbers that satisfy the equation x 3 + y 3 + 1 27 = x y x^{3}+y^{3}+\dfrac{1}{27}=xy , the value of x + y x+y can be expressed in the form m n \dfrac{m}{n} . Where m m and n n are coprime positive integers, find m + n m+n .


The answer is 5.

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2 solutions

Given that x 3 + y 3 + ( 1 3 ) 3 = 3 ( 1 3 ) x y \displaystyle x^{3} + y^{3} + \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{3} = 3\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)xy

From a 3 + b 3 + c 3 3 a b c = ( a + b + c ) ( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 a b b c c a ) a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}-3abc=(a+b+c)(a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}-ab-bc-ca)

Given that L H S = 0 LHS = 0 ( a = x , b = y , c = 1 3 ) (a = x, b = y, c = \frac{1}{3}) .

Therefore, a + b + c = 0 or a 2 + b 2 + c 2 a b b c c a = 0 a+b+c = 0 \text{ or } a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}-ab-bc-ca = 0

a + b + c = 0 a+b+c = 0 doesn't give positive x and y x \text{ and } y .

a 2 + b 2 + c 2 a b b c c a = 0 a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}-ab-bc-ca = 0

( a b ) 2 + ( b c ) 2 + ( c a ) 2 2 = 0 \displaystyle \frac{(a-b)^{2}+(b-c)^{2}+(c-a)^{2}}{2} = 0

We get a = b or b = c or c = a a = b \text{ or } b = c \text{ or } c = a

Which gives x = y = 1 3 \boxed{\displaystyle x = y = \frac{1}{3}} ~~~

Another freakingly faster solutions that comes in mind from the tags.

From AM-GM; x 3 + y 3 + ( 1 3 ) 3 3 x 3 y 3 ( 1 3 ) 3 3 = x y \displaystyle x^{3}+y^{3}+\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{3} \geq 3\displaystyle \sqrt[\displaystyle 3]{\displaystyle x^{3}y^{3}\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{3}} = xy

Equality holds iff x = y = 1 3 \displaystyle x = y = \frac{1}{3} lol

Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi - 6 years, 10 months ago

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Yeah, the exact solution I have. Excellent! :D

Sean Ty - 6 years, 10 months ago

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Feeling terrible for figuring out the freaking easier solution XD

Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi - 6 years, 10 months ago

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@Samuraiwarm Tsunayoshi At least now you know! :D Mistakes are meant to be learned after all. (If you count that as a mistake at least, but you get the picture. :P )

Sean Ty - 6 years, 10 months ago
Ankush Tiwari
Aug 10, 2014

Since x x and y y are positive x 3 x^3 and y 3 y^3 must be positive so we can apply AM-GM to get

x 3 + y 3 + 1 27 > = x y x^3 + y^3 + \frac{1}{27} >= xy

But its given that x 3 + y 3 + 1 27 = x y x^3 + y^3 + \frac{1}{27} = xy

We know that AM = GM when all terms on the LHS are equal.

x 3 = y 3 = 1 27 x = y = 1 3 x^3 = y^3 = \frac{1}{27} \Rightarrow x = y = \frac{1}{3}

x + y = 2 3 m + n = 5 \Rightarrow x + y = \frac{2}{3} \Rightarrow m + n =5

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