16

or

(x + y + z)(y + z − x)(z + x − y)(x + y − z) = 0,

so that in general we can take z = x + y. Note that if (x, y, z, w) is a solution, so

is (±x, ±y, ±z, ±w) and permutations of the x, y, z. Substituting back, we get

x2 + xy + y 2 = w2 .

Since (x, y, w) = (1, −1, 1) is one solution, the general solution is obtained by
the method of Desboves, that is, we set x = r + p, y = −r + q and w = r.
2
+pq+q2 )
This gives r = (p (q−p) . On rationalizing the solutions (since the equation is
homogeneous), we get

x = p2 + pq + q 2 + p(q − p) = q 2 + 2pq,
−y = p2 + pq + q 2 − q(q − p) = p2 + 2pq,
w = p2 + pq + q 2 ,
z = q 2 − p2 .

22. Prove that if the line joining the incentre to the centroid of a triangle
is parallel to one of the sides of the triangle, then the sides are in arithmetic
progression and, conversely, if the sides of a triangle are in arithmetic progression
then the line joining the incentre to the centroid is parallel to one of the sides of
the triangle.
Solution. Let A, B, C denote vectors to the respective vertices A, B, C of the
triangle from a point outside the plane of the triangle. Then the incentre I and
the centroid G have the respective vector representations I and G, where

(aA + bB + cC) (A + B + C)
I= , G= ,
(a + b + c) 3

(where a, b, c are sides of the triangle). If G − I = k(A − B), then by expanding

out

(b + c − 2a − k ′ )A + (a + c − 2b + k ′ )B + (a + b − 2c)C = 0,

where k ′ = 3k(a + b + c). Since A, B, C are linearly independent, the coefficient

of C must vanish so that the sides are in arithmetic progression. Also then k ′ =
b + c − 2a = 2b − a − c.
3(A−B)(b−a)
Conversely, if 2c = a + b, then G − I = 6(a+b+c) , so that GI is parallel to the
side AB.