The Time Difference Between Posts

In summary, there are 5 solutions to the system of equations: (2,2,2), (-3,-3,-3), (1,1,5), (1,5,1), and (5,1,1). These were found by considering two cases: when x=y=z and when x=z=1. The problem can also be extended to complex numbers.
  • #1
anemone
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Find all ordered triples $(x,\,y,\,z)$ that satisfy the following system of equations:

$xy+z=6$

$yz+x=6$

$zx+y=6$
 
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  • #2
anemone said:
Find all ordered triples $(x,\,y,\,z)$ that satisfy the following system of equations:

$xy+z=6$

$yz+x=6$

$zx+y=6$

Hello.

[tex]z=6-xy[/tex]

[tex]6y-xy^2+x=6 \rightarrow{}6(y-1)=x(y^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=x(y+1)[/tex](*)

[tex]6x-x^2y+y=6 \rightarrow{}6(x-1)=y(x^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=y(x+1)[/tex](**)

For (*) and (**):

[tex]x(y+1)=y(x+1) \rightarrow{}x=y[/tex]

Same:

[tex]x=6-yz[/tex]

...

...

[tex]y=z[/tex]

Conclusion:

[tex]x=y=z[/tex]

Therefore:

[tex]xy+z=6 \rightarrow{} x^2+x-6=0[/tex]

Resolving:

[tex]x=2 , \ and \ x=-3[/tex]

Solution:

[tex](2,2,2),(-3,-3,-3)[/tex]

Regards.
 
  • #3
There are also:

(1,1,5) and (5,1,1)

But have we found them all? ;)
 
  • #4
MarkFL said:
There are also:

(1,1,5) and (5,1,1)

But have we found them all? ;)

What I can not deduct:

[tex](1,1,5),(1,5,1),(5,1,1)[/tex]

I I had lying down to sleep, and I've had to raise this issue again. now yes I, which is late.

Regards.
 
  • #5
[sp]
Assume that $xyz=0$ then we get a contradiction. So it must be $xyz\neq 0$. Divide all equations by $xyz$.

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xz}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
so we get

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}=\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xz}\)

Consider

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}\)

Then we have

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{yz}-\frac{1}{xy}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{y}\left(\frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x} \right)\)

Case [1]

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{z}=0\)

So \(\displaystyle x=y=z\), Hence \(\displaystyle x^2+x=6\) and we have the solutions \(\displaystyle (2,2,2),(-3,-3,-3)\).

Case [2]

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{z}\neq 0\)

Then \(\displaystyle y=1\) so we have

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{z}=1+\frac{1}{xz}\)

or $x(1-z)=1-z$ then it is immediate that either \(\displaystyle x=1\) or \(\displaystyle z=1\)

By symmetry of solutions we have \(\displaystyle (1,1,5),(1,5,1),(5,1,1)\)

[/sp]
 
  • #6
mente oscura said:
Hello.

[tex]z=6-xy[/tex]

[tex]6y-xy^2+x=6 \rightarrow{}6(y-1)=x(y^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=x(y+1)[/tex](*)

[tex]6x-x^2y+y=6 \rightarrow{}6(x-1)=y(x^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=y(x+1)[/tex](**)

For (*) and (**):

[tex]x(y+1)=y(x+1) \rightarrow{}x=y[/tex]

Same:

[tex]x=6-yz[/tex]

...

...

[tex]y=z[/tex]

Conclusion:

[tex]x=y=z[/tex]

Therefore:

[tex]xy+z=6 \rightarrow{} x^2+x-6=0[/tex]

Resolving:

[tex]x=2 , \ and \ x=-3[/tex]

Solution:

[tex](2,2,2),(-3,-3,-3)[/tex]

MarkFL said:
There are also:

(1,1,5) and (5,1,1)

But have we found them all? ;)

Thanks MarkFL for pointing this out!

Regards.

mente oscura said:
What I can not deduct:

[tex](1,1,5),(1,5,1),(5,1,1)[/tex]

I I had lying down to sleep, and I've had to raise this issue again. now yes I, which is late.

Regards.

Thanks, mente for participating and yes, all those 5 solutions are the complete answer to this problem.
 
  • #7
mente oscura said:
Hello.

[tex]z=6-xy[/tex]

[tex]6y-xy^2+x=6 \rightarrow{}6(y-1)=x(y^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=x(y+1)[/tex](*)

[tex]6x-x^2y+y=6 \rightarrow{}6(x-1)=y(x^2-1)[/tex]

[tex]6=y(x+1)[/tex](**)

For (*) and (**):

[tex]x(y+1)=y(x+1) \rightarrow{}x=y[/tex]

Same:

[tex]x=6-yz[/tex]

...

...

[tex]y=z[/tex]

Conclusion:

[tex]x=y=z[/tex]

Therefore:

[tex]xy+z=6 \rightarrow{} x^2+x-6=0[/tex]

Resolving:

[tex]x=2 , \ and \ x=-3[/tex]

Solution:

[tex](2,2,2),(-3,-3,-3)[/tex]

Regards.

the case that was left out was y = 1
y =1 gives x + z = 6, xz = 5 solving it we get
y = 1 , x = 5, z = 1
y = 1 ,z = 5, x = 1

similarly we can find one more x = 5, y = 1, z = 1

actually 2 solutions for y = 1 , 2 for z = 1 and 2 for x = 1 but that is 3 solutions in duplicate
 
  • #8
ZaidAlyafey said:
[sp]
Assume that $xyz=0$ then we get a contradiction. So it must be $xyz\neq 0$. Divide all equations by $xyz$.

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xz}=\frac{6}{xyz}
\)
so we get

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}=\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{xz}\)

Consider

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}+\frac{1}{xy}=\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{yz}\)

Then we have

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{yz}-\frac{1}{xy}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x}=\frac{1}{y}\left(\frac{1}{z}-\frac{1}{x} \right)\)

Case [1]

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{z}=0\)

So \(\displaystyle x=y=z\), Hence \(\displaystyle x^2+x=6\) and we have the solutions \(\displaystyle (2,2,2),(-3,-3,-3)\).

Case [2]

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{z}\neq 0\)

Then \(\displaystyle y=1\) so we have

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{z}=1+\frac{1}{xz}\)

or $x(1-z)=1-z$ then it is immediate that either \(\displaystyle x=1\) or \(\displaystyle z=1\)

By symmetry of solutions we have \(\displaystyle (1,1,5),(1,5,1),(5,1,1)\)

[/sp]

Thanks to you too, Zaid for participating and showing us another way to solve the problem.

kaliprasad said:
the case that was left out was y = 1
y =1 gives x + z = 6, xz = 5 solving it we get
y = 1 , x = 5, z = 1
y = 1 ,z = 5, x = 1

similarly we can find one more x = 5, y = 1, z = 1

actually 2 solutions for y = 1 , 2 for z = 1 and 2 for x = 1 but that is 3 solutions in duplicate

Yes, you're absolutely right, kaliprasad! I think mente oscura realized it, but it's just that he was too tired and yet wanted to solve some challenge problems on his way to go to bed. :)
 
  • #9
I wouldn't have arrived to the solutions unless Mark pointed out the other possiblities. It wasn't quite easy to see that the permutations of [sp]\(\displaystyle (1,1,5)\)[/sp] is a solution. At first glance I thought of using the interesting formula

\(\displaystyle x^3+y^3+z^3=(x+y+z)(x^2+y^2+z^2-xy-xz-yz)+3xyz\).

One interesting question is to look at all the solutions of

\(\displaystyle xy+z=a\)
\(\displaystyle xz+y=a\)
\(\displaystyle zy+x=a\)

where the domain is complex numbers.
 
  • #10
anemone said:
Thanks to you too, Zaid for participating and showing us another way to solve the problem.
Yes, you're absolutely right, kaliprasad! I think mente oscura realized it, but it's just that he was too tired and yet wanted to solve some challenge problems on his way to go to bed. :)

Hello.:eek: (Time)

The time difference is (Yawn)

My last post: 5:45 AM

Regards.
 

FAQ: The Time Difference Between Posts

What is a system of equations?

A system of equations is a set of two or more equations that contain multiple variables. The solution to a system of equations is the set of values for each variable that satisfies all the equations in the system.

How do you solve a system of equations?

There are several methods for solving systems of equations, including substitution, elimination, and graphing. These methods involve manipulating the equations and solving for one variable at a time until the values for all variables are found.

Can a system of equations have more than one solution?

Yes, a system of equations can have one, infinite, or no solutions. If the equations are consistent (they have at least one solution), they can have either one or infinite solutions. If the equations are inconsistent (they have no solution), there is no set of values that satisfy all the equations.

What is the importance of solving systems of equations?

Solving systems of equations is important in various fields such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and economics. It allows us to find the relationships between different variables and make predictions or solve real-world problems.

Can technology be used to solve systems of equations?

Yes, technology, such as graphing calculators and computer software, can be used to solve systems of equations. These tools can quickly and accurately solve complex systems of equations, making it easier and more efficient for scientists and mathematicians to solve equations in their research and work.

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