MHB System of Equations: Find Real Numbers $p,q,r,s$

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The discussion focuses on solving a system of equations involving four variables: p, q, r, and s. Each equation combines products and sums of these variables, with three equations equating to 9 and one to 1. Participants explore various algebraic techniques to find the real number solutions that satisfy all equations simultaneously. The complexity of the equations suggests potential relationships or constraints among the variables that could simplify the problem. Ultimately, the goal is to identify the specific values of p, q, r, and s that meet the criteria set by the equations.
anemone
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Find all real numbers $p,\,q,\,r,\,s$ that satisfy the following system of equations:

$spq+sp+pq+qs+s+p+q=9$

$rsp+rs+sp+pr+r+s+p=9$

$qrs+qr+rs+sq+q+r+s=9$

$pqr+pq+qr+rp+p+q+r=1$
 
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anemone said:
Find all real numbers $p,\,q,\,r,\,s$ that satisfy the following system of equations:

$spq+sp+pq+qs+s+p+q=9$

$rsp+rs+sp+pr+r+s+p=9$

$qrs+qr+rs+sq+q+r+s=9$

$pqr+pq+qr+rp+p+q+r=1$

Add 1 to LHS and RHS of each expression to get
$(1+p)(1+q)(1+s) = 10$
$(1+p)(1+s)(1+r) = 10$
$(1+q)(1+r)(1+s) = 10$
$(1+p)(1+q)(1+r) = 2$

multiply all 3 and then take cube root to get
$(1+p)(1+q)(1+s)(1+r) = 10 \sqrt[3]{2}$

deviding above by 1st 3 equations
hence $(1+r)=(1+q)=(1+p) =\sqrt[3]{2}$

or $r=p=q=\sqrt[3]{2}-1$

and deviding by 4th equation we get

$s = 5\sqrt[3]{2}-1$
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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