Are There Limited Ordered Triples for Complex Number Equations?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on proving that there are only a finite number of ordered triples $(a-b, b-c, c-a)$ for complex numbers $a$, $b$, and $c$ that satisfy the equation $a(a-1)+2bc=b(b-1)+2ca=c(c-1)+2ab$. The correct solution was provided by user castor28, while partial credit was awarded to Olinguito and kaliprasad for their contributions. The problem emphasizes the importance of understanding complex number relationships and their implications in algebraic structures.

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anemone
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Prove that there are only a finite number of possibilities for the ordered triple $(a-b,\,b-c,\,c-a)$ where $a$, $b$ and $c$ are complex numbers satisfying the simultaneous equations

$a(a-1)+2bc=b(b-1)+2ca=c(c-1)+2ab$

and list all such triples.

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Remember to read the https://mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to https://mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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Congratulations to castor28 for his correct solution, which you can find below:):

Partial credit goes to the following members for their partially correct solution:
1. Olinguito
2. kaliprasad

Solution from castor28:
The two independent equations can be written as:
\begin{align*}
(a-b)(a+b-2c-1) &= 0 = (a-b)((b-c)-(c-a)-1)\\
(a-c)(a+c-2b-1) &= 0 = -(c-a)((a-b)-(b-c)-1)
\end{align*}
Writing $x=a-b$, $y=b-c$, $z=c-a$, we get:
\begin{align*}
x(y-z-1) &= 0\\
y(z-x-1) &= 0
\end{align*}
Since $x+y+z=0$, we may substitute $z=-x-y$, and we obtain:
\begin{align*}
x(x+2y-1) &= 0\\
y(y+2x+1) &= 0
\end{align*}
We can choose one of the two factors in each equation in four possible ways; in each case, we obtain a non-singular system of two linear equations in $x$ and $y$. Using the fact that $z=-x-y$, we obtain the four possible triples $(x,y,z)$ : $(0,0,0)$, $(0,-1,1)$, $(1,0,-1)$, and $(-1,1,0)$.
 

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