Find all $n$-tuples of real numbers $(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n)$ such that, for every index $k$ with $1\leq k\leq n$, the following holds: \[ x_k^2=\sum\limits_{\substack{i < j \\ i, j\neq k}} x_ix_j \] Proposed by Oriol Solé
Problem
Source: Mexico National Olympiad Mock Exam 2018 Problem 3
Tags: algebra, system of equations, Algebraic Manipulations
06.11.2018 11:43
$\sum\limits_{\substack{i < j }} x_ix_j =\sum\limits_{\substack{i < j \\ i, j\neq k}} x_ix_j +x_k\sum\limits_{\substack{i \neq k}} x_i =x_k\sum x_i$. So we have two cases: 1) $\sum x_i \neq 0 \to x_k=c$ is constant $\frac{n(n-1)}{2}c^2=nc^2 \to n=3$ or $c=0$ 2) $\sum x_i =0$ then $0=(\sum x_i)^2 =\sum x_i^2+ \sum\limits_{\substack{i < j }} x_ix_j =\sum x_i^2 \to x_i=0$ Answer: $(c,c,c)$ and $(0,0,....,0)$
07.11.2018 06:00
RagvaloD wrote: $\sum\limits_{\substack{i < j }} x_ix_j =\sum\limits_{\substack{i < j \\ i, j\neq k}} x_ix_j +x_k\sum\limits_{\substack{i \neq k}} x_i =x_k\sum x_i$. So we have two cases: 1) $\sum x_i \neq 0 \to x_k$ is constant, so $x_k=0$ 2) $\sum x_i =0$ then $0=(\sum x_i)^2 =\sum x_i^2+ \sum\limits_{\substack{i < j }} x_ix_j =\sum x_i^2 \to x_i=0$ Didn't you miss the case when the $x_i$ are all equal and $n=3$?
07.11.2018 06:10
07.11.2018 16:41
@above, I fix my solution, thanks
23.11.2021 15:01
Very easy problem for p3