# Homework Help: Viete relations problem

1. May 21, 2008

### ehrenfest

[SOLVED] Viete relations problem

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Find all real numbers r for which there is at least one triple (x,y,z) of nonzero real numbers such that

$$x^2 y + yz^2 + z^2 x = xy^2 + yz^2 + zx^2 = rxyz$$

2. Relevant equations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viète's_formulas

3. The attempt at a solution
This is equivalent to finding the possible values of r+s+t = 1/r + 1/s + 1/t where r,s,t are real but I don't see how that leads to a solution.

Fix r and assume that x,y,z exist. Let f(t) = t^3 + at^2 + bt+c be the monic polynomial with
x,y,z as its zeros. By assumption c is not zero. Its not hard to show that ab = (3+2r)c and a^3 = x^3+ y^3+z^3 + (3+2r)c using Viete's relations. But I am not sure what to do with those or how to get any sort of condition on r.

Please just provide a hint.

2. May 22, 2008

### morphism

Just to be sure, did you type out the equations correctly? Or is it supposed to be $\sum x^2 y = rxyz$ instead?

3. May 22, 2008

### ehrenfest

I did mess up. Change yz^2 to y^2 z on the LHS. Anyway I already peeked at the solution.