MathDB
replace x by x^2-3yz with x,y,z written on board

Source: Ukraine 1998 Grade 11 P6

June 6, 2021
combinatoricsnumber theory

Problem Statement

The numbers 1,1998,19991,1998,1999 are written on the board. In each step it is allowed to replace one of the numbers by its square decreased by three times the product of the other two numbers. Is it possible to obtain three numbers with the sum 00 after several steps?