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35 votes
Given that x³ + y³ = (x + y)(ax² + bxy + cy²) find the values of a, b and c​

User Colin D Bennett
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1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes
On the right hand side, distribute (x+y) in the other parenthesis and then compare the variables to the left hand side to figure out the factors:
(x+y)(ax2 + bxy + cy2)
ax3 + byx2 + cxy2 + ayx2 + bxy2 + cy3
Comparing to the left side. a and c must be 1.
And b has to be -1 so that all the other terms can cancel out.
User Chris Westbrook
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