Let a, b, and c, be nonzero real numbers such that a+b+c=0. Compute the value of . . .
a(b – c) multiplied out is ab – ac
b(c – a) multiplied out is bc – ba
c(a – b) multiplied out is ca – cb
add up the column on the right ab – ac + bc – ba + ca – cb
change ba to ab
change ca to ac
change cb to bc ab – ac + bc – ab + ac – bc
rearrange ab – ab + ac – ac + bc – bc
add parentheses for clarity (ab – ab) + (ac – ac) + (bc – bc)
Everything cancels out and the final total is zero.
.