Solve the system
Recognise the Lagrange structure. These are exactly the stationarity conditions for optimising on the unit circle: with , and is the multiplier. Knowing this predicts four solutions (two maxima/minima and two saddle-type points) and tells you every answer must lie on the circle.
Parametrise the constraint. Setting , satisfies the third equation automatically and turns the first two into
Eliminate the multiplier . Multiply the first by , the second by , and subtract; the terms cancel:
This single equation in has exactly four roots in , which is where the count of four solutions comes from.
Read off the two rational solutions. Two roots give recognisable points. At the first equation gives , so ; the second gives ✓. At : the first gives so , and the second gives ✓.
Find the remaining two, which involve . The other two roots satisfy and , giving
Verify every candidate against all three equations — especially the constraint. For the pair, ✓, and expanding the first two equations with gives exactly in both. This check is essential: a proposed solution set that fails is wrong no matter how tidy it looks.
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