Let k be a real parameter. Determine the number of real solutions to the system x2+kxy+y2y2+kyz+z2z2+kzx+x2=z,=x,=y, in terms of k.
Solution
We distinguish several cases.
First, assume x=y=z. Then the whole system reduces to (k+2)x2=x. Its solution is a triplet (0,0,0) for any k and moreover triplet (k+21,k+21,k+21) if k=−2.
Let's get back to the original system. Subtracting the second equation from the first one yields (x2−z2)+ky(x−z)=z−x which rewrites as (x−z)(x+z+ky+1)=0.(1) Similarly, subtracting the third equation from the second one yields (y−x)(y+x+kz+1)=0.(2) If x=y=z=x, the equations (1), (2) reduce to x+z+ky+1y+x+kz+1=0,=0. Subtracting these two equations we arrive at (y−z)(k−1)=0 implying that k=1 and x+y+z=−1. However that's impossible since for k=1 we get z=x2+xy+y2=(x+2y)2+43y2≥0 and likewise x≥0 and y≥0 so altogether x+y+z≥0.
We found out that in every solution to the original system, some two unknowns have the same value. As the system is cyclic, let us from now on assume x=y=z (the case x=y=z has already been solved). Equation (1) then implies x+y+ky+1=0, that is x=−(k+1)y−1, and the original system reduces to a single equation (k+2)y2+(k+1)y+1=0.(3) Let us remark that any solution to equation (3) is a solution we haven't found yet, because equality x=y i.e. y=−(k+1)y−1 is only possible for k=−2 and yields x=y=z=−1/(k+2) which is not a solution to the original system.
For k=−2 the equation (3) is linear with a unique solution y=1. This yields solution (0,1,1) and its two permutations.
For k=−2 the equation (3) is quadratic and has real solutions if and only if D=(k+1)2−4(k+2)=k2−2k−7≥0, which translates to k∈/(1−22,1+22). For k=1±22 there is a unique solution y0=−2(k+2)k+1=1∓2ax0=2(k+2)(k+1)2−1=1. which yields the three permutations of (x0,y0,y0) as solutions to the original system.
For k∈(−∞,−2)∪(−2,1−22)∪(1+22,∞), the quadratic equation (3) has two distinct solutions y1,2=2(k+2)−k−1±k2−2k−7, that give two distinct values x1,2=−(k+1)y1,2−1. The original system thus has six solutions: three permutations of (x1,y1,y1) and three permutations of (x2,y2,y2).
The following table summarizes the number of solutions to the given system in terms of k:
Interval for k
(0,0,0)
(1/(k+2),1/(k+2),1/(k+2))
Equation (3)
Total
(−∞,−2)
1
1
6
8
−2
1
0
3
4
(−2,1−22)
1
1
6
8
1−22
1
1
3
5
(1−22,1+22)
1
1
0
2
1+22
1
1
3
5
(1+22,∞)
1
1
6
8
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