Simultaneous 3 Variables

Solve for integers a, b, c:

a + b = 1 c a+b=1-c a 3 + b 3 = 1 c 2 a^{3}+b^{3}=1-c^{2}

If the solutions you obtain for example, (1,2,3) and (4,5,6) then your answer will be 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 21 1+2+3+4+5+6 = \boxed{21} .

Disregard the solution family: ( m , m , 1 ) (m, -m, 1) .


The answer is 6.

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2 solutions

Mohammad Al Ali
May 20, 2014

We are given two equations, a + b = 1 c (1) a+b=1-c \tag{1} a 3 + b 3 = 1 c 2 (2) a^{3}+b^{3}=1-c^{2} \tag{2}

Rewriting ( 2 ) (2) factored as: ( a + b ) ( a 2 a b + b 2 ) = ( 1 c ) ( 1 + c ) (a+b)(a^{2}-ab+b^{2}) = (1-c)(1+c)

Hence, ( 2 ) ÷ ( 1 ) (2) \div (1) attains, a 2 a b + b 2 = 1 + c (3) a^{2}-ab+b^{2} = 1+c \tag{3}

Adding ( 1 ) (1) to ( 3 ) (3) and collecting terms on one side we obtain, a 2 a b a + b 2 + b 2 = 0 (4) a^{2}-ab-a+b^{2}+b-2=0 \tag{4}

We can play with ( 4 ) (4) to obtain the following, which can be used in a quadratic formula: a 2 + a ( 1 b ) + ( b + 2 ) ( b 1 ) = 0 a^{2} + a(1-b) + (b+2)(b-1) = 0

Using the quadratic formula, a = b 1 ± ( 1 b ) 2 4 ( b + 2 ) ( b 1 ) 2 a = \frac{b-1 \pm \sqrt{(1-b)^{2}-4(b+2)(b-1)}}{2}

The discriminant shouldn't be negative: d i s c r i m i n a n t 0 discriminant \ge 0

Hence, ( 1 b ) 2 4 ( b + 2 ) ( b 1 ) 0 (1-b)^{2}-4(b+2)(b-1) \ge 0

Expanding the LHS and simplifying it afterwards, ( b + 3 ) ( b 1 ) 0 (b+3)(b-1) \le 0

Solving this quadratic inequality we find that: 3 b 1 -3 \le b \le 1 Thus, b has 5 possible solutions,

\tag{5} a = b 1 ± ( 1 b ) 2 4 ( b + 2 ) ( b 1 ) 2 a = \frac{b-1 \pm \sqrt{(1-b)^{2}-4(b+2)(b-1)}}{2}

C a s e b = 3 : \underline{Case\:b=-3:}

Using ( 5 ) (5) we get a = 2 a = -2

Hence, using ( 1 ) (1) to get c = 6 \; c = 6

C a s e b = 2 : \underline{Case\:b=-2:}

Using ( 5 ) (5) we get a = 0 , 3 a = 0,-3

For a = 0 a= 0 , c = 3 \; c=3

For a = 3 a=-3 , c = 6 \; c=6

C a s e b = 1 : \underline{Case\:b=-1:}

Using ( 5 ) (5) we get a = 1 + 3 a = -1+\sqrt{3}

Hence, this solution is rejected as a is not an integer.

C a s e b = 0 : \underline{Case\:b=0:}

Using ( 5 ) (5) we get a = 1. 2 a = 1.-2

For a = 1 a= 1 , c = 0 \; c=0

For a = 2 a=-2 , c = 3 \; c=3

C a s e b = 1 : \underline{Case\:b=1:}

Using ( 5 ) (5) we get a = 0 a = 0

Hence, using ( 1 ) (1) to get c = 0 \; c = 0

Finally, we have a total of 6 solutions, ( 1 , 0 , 0 ) , ( 2 , 0 , 3 ) , ( 0 , 1 , 0 ) , ( 2 , 3 , 6 ) , ( 0 , 2 , 3 ) , ( 3 , 2 , 6 ) (1,0,0) , (-2,0,3), (0,1,0), (-2,-3,6), (0,-2,3), (-3,-2,6)

Hence the answer, 1 2 + 3 + 1 2 3 + 6 2 + 3 3 2 + 6 = 6 1-2+3+1-2-3+6-2+3-3-2+6 = \boxed{6}

When solving equations, be careful that you don't "simply divide" out by common terms, which might potentially be 0. You need to account for why it need not be 0, or verify that it doesn't lead to a solution.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago

There is a problem with your solution. When you divide both sides by 1-c, you are assuming that c doesn't = 1. Then you get the six solutions you found. But if c = 1, then there are an infinite number of solutions! Just let b = -a and you will get (-a,a,1) which works for all integral values of a. For instance (5,-5,1) is a solution. Each solution would 1 to your total...

Scott Immel - 7 years ago

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Yes, (m, -m, 1) is another family of solutions.

Mohammad Al Ali - 7 years ago
Souryajit Roy
May 22, 2014

If a + b = 0 a+b=0 then ( t , t , 1 ) (t,-t,1) is a family of solutions

So suppose a + b 0 a+b≠0 and hence a 2 a b + b 2 + a + b 2 = 0 a^{2}-ab+b^{2}+a+b-2=0

The equation can be written as ( 2 a b + 1 ) 2 + 3 ( b + 1 ) 2 = 12 (2a-b+1)^{2}+3(b+1)^{2}=12

There are two possibilities ( 2 a b + 1 ) = + 3 (2a-b+1)= _{-}^{+}3 , ( b + 1 ) = + 1 (b+1)= _{-}^{+}1 and ( 2 a b + 1 ) = 0 (2a-b+1)= 0 , ( b + 1 ) = + 2 (b+1)= _{-}^{+}2

Hence the solution sets are ( 0 , 1 , 0 ) , ( 2 , 3 , 6 ) , ( 1 , 0 , 0 ) , ( 0 , 2 , 3 ) , ( 2 , 0 , 3 ) , ( 3 , 2 , 6 ) (0,1,0),(-2,-3,6),(1,0,0),(0,-2,3),(-2,0,3),(-3,-2,6)

Thats correct too, but may you guide me on how you factored it into ( 2 a b + 1 ) 2 + 3 ( b + 1 ) 2 = 12 (2a-b+1)^{2} + 3(b+1)^{2} =12 .

Mohammad Al Ali - 7 years ago

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Multiplying the equation by 4

Souryajit Roy - 7 years ago

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