Finding all positive real solutions with proof

systems of equations

Given the system of equations:
$a^2 = 9b+10c+11d$
$b^2 = 9c+10d+11a$
$c^2 = 9d+10a+11b$
$d^2 = 9a+10b+11c$

How do I prove that the only positive real solution is {30, 30, 30, 30}?

So far, I've tried adding all of the equations up and then manipulating them but that didn't end up helping me disprove the existence of other positive real solutions. I've also tried subtracting the equations from each other and even using the quadratic formula to try to get a relation between the variables independently.

Best Answer

Approach 1: Adding up the equations, $30 (a + b + c + d) = a^2 + b^2 + c ^2 + d^2 \geq \frac{ (a+b+c+d) ^2 } { 4} $.
Since $ a+b + c + d > 0$, we can divide by it and conclude that hence $ 120 \geq a+b+c+d$.

WLOG, let $ a= \min (a, b, c, d)$.
Then $ a^2 = 9b + 10c + 11d \geq 9a + 10 a + 11a = 30a$, so $ a \geq 30$.

The only possible tuple which satisfies both conditions is $(30,30,30,30)$, which we can easily verify is a solution.


Approach 2: (Fill in the gaps yourself) Similar to the 2nd step from above, show that

$$ 30 \leq \min (a, b, c, d) \leq \max (a, b, c, d ) \leq 30. $$


Note:

  1. I believe (no proof yet) that $ (0,0,0,0)$ is the only other real solution.
  2. Wolfram says that there are other complex solutions.
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