4 problems found
Solution:
Consider the quadratic equation $$ nx^2+2x \sqrt{pn^2+q} + rn + s = 0, \tag{*} $$ where \(p>0\), \(p\neq r\) and \(n=1\), \(2\), \(3\), \(\ldots\) .
Solution:
For all values of \(a\) and \(b,\) either solve the simultaneous equations \begin{alignat*}{1} x+y+az & =2\\ x+ay+z & =2\\ 2x+y+z & =2b \end{alignat*} or prove that they have no solution.
Solution: Consider the matrix system: \begin{align*} \left(\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 1 & a & 2 \\ 1 & a & 1 & 2 \\ 2 & 1 & 1 & 2b \\ \end{array}\right) \\ \left(\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 1 & a & 2 \\ 0 & a-1 & 1-a & 0 \\ 0 & -1 & 1-2a & 2b-4 \\ \end{array}\right)\\ \left(\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 1 & a & 2 \\ 0 & a-1 & 1-a & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & -2a & 2b-4 \\ \end{array}\right) \\ \end{align*} Assuming that \(a \neq 1, 0\) all steps are fine and: \(z = \frac{2-b}{a}, y = \frac{2-b}{a}, x +(1+a)y = 2, x = 2 - \frac{(2-b)(1+a)}{a} = \frac{ab+b-2}{a}\) If \(a = 0\), \(y = z\) and \(\begin{cases} x + y &= 2 \\ 2x + 2y &= 2b \end{cases} \Rightarrow b= 2, x = t, y = 2-t, z = 2-t\) If \(a = 1\), \(x = 2b-2, y = t, z = 4-t-2b\), where \(t \in \mathbb{R}\)
Find the simultaneous solutions of the three linear equations \begin{alignat*}{1} a^{2}x+ay+z & =a^{2}\\ ax+y+bz & =1\\ a^{2}bx+y+bz & =b \end{alignat*} for all possible real values of \(a\) and \(b\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && a^{2}x+ay+z & =a^{2} \tag{1}\\ && ax+y+bz & =1 \tag{2}\\ && a^{2}bx+y+bz & =b \tag{3} \\ \\ (1) - a(2): && (1-ba)z &= a^2-a \\ \Rightarrow && z &= \frac{a^2-a}{1-ab} \tag{if \(ab \neq 1\)} \\ \\ (2) - (3): && (a-a^2b)x &= b - 1 \\ \Rightarrow && x &= \frac{b-1}{a(1-ab)} \tag{if \(a \neq 0, ab \neq 1\)} \\ \\ b(1) - (3): && (ab-1)y &= a^2 - b^2 \\ \Rightarrow && y &= \frac{a^2-b^2}{ab-1} \end{align*} Let's consider the cases where \(a = 0\), then \begin{align*} && z &= 0 \\ && y + bz &= 1 \\ && y+bz &= b \\ \Rightarrow && y &= 1 = b \end{align*} So if \(a = 0\) then \(b = 1\) and \(x \in \mathbb{R}, y = 1, z = 0\). If \(a \neq 0, ab = 1\), then \begin{align*} && a^2 x + ay + z &= a^2 \\ && ax + y + \frac1{a}z &= a \\ && ax + y + \frac{1}{a}z &= b \\ \end{align*} The last two equations imply \(a = b = \pm 1\). \(a = 1 \Rightarrow x+y+z = 1\), so we have a lot of solutions. \(a = -1 \Rightarrow x -y +z = 1\) so again, lots of solutions. Conclusion: If \(ab \neq 1, a \neq 0\), we have: \[ (x,y,z) = \left (\frac{b-1}{a(1-ab)}, \frac{a^2-b^2}{ab-1}, \frac{a^2-a}{1-ab} \right)\] If \(a = 0\) then \(b = 1\) and we have: \((x,y,z) = (t, 1, 0)\). If \(ab = 1\) then \(a = 1\) or \(a = -1\). If \(a = 1\) then \((x,y,z) = (t, s, 1-t-s)\) If \(a = -1\) then \((x,y,z) = (t,s,1-t+s)\)