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Quadratic and Cubic Expression Quickie (Posted on 2023-10-17) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Suppose x and y are two real numbers with x ≠ y, such that
y = 1+x+x2, and:
x = 1+y+y2.

Determine the value of x3+y3.

See The Solution Submitted by K Sengupta    
Rating: 5.0000 (1 votes)

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Some Thoughts Possible Solution Comment 2 of 2 |
If x=1+y+y^2 and y=1+x+x^2,
Then
x^2=(y-x-1)
y^2=(x-y-1)

Since x^3+y^3 = (x + y) (x^2 - x y + y^2) 
x^3+y^3 = (x + y) ((y-x-1) - x y + (x-y-1))
(x + y) (x^2 - x y + y^2)  = -(x+y)(xy+2)
So that x^2 + y^2 = -2, with no real solutions for x,y. 
So we could stop there, for the problem calls for x,y real.

But continuing,
Then y = +-sqrt(-x^2 - 2)
Substituting
x-sqrt(-x^2 - 2)-1=(-x^2 - 2), x=i
x+sqrt(-x^2 - 2)-1=(-x^2 - 2), x={-i, -1-isqrt(2), -1+isqrt(2)}

Then x^3= {-i, i, 5-sqrt(2)i, 5+sqrt(2)i}
Since x^2=(y-x-1): 
{x,y}= {i,i}, {-i,-i}, {-1-isqrt(2),-1+isqrt(2)}, {-1+isqrt(2),-1-isqrt(2)} 
But in the first two cases, x=y, which the puzzle prohibits. 
Then y^3= {5+sqrt(2)i,5-sqrt(2)i}

and x^3+y^3= {10,10}

Edited on October 18, 2023, 5:08 am
  Posted by broll on 2023-10-18 05:07:03

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