<s>[INST] How to prove $(a-b)^3 + (b-c)^3 + (c-a)^3 -3(a-b)(b-c)(c-a) = 0$ without calculations I read somewhere that I can prove this identity below with abstract algebra in a simpler and faster way without any calculations, is that true or am I wrong?
$$(a-b)^3 + (b-c)^3 + (c-a)^3 -3(a-b)(b-c)(c-a) = 0$$
Thanks
 [/INST] An equivalent identity is that $x+y+z = 0$ implies $x^3+y^3+z^3-3xyz = 0$.
So suppose $x+y+z = 0$.
Then the determinant $ \begin{vmatrix} x & z & y\\ y & x & z\\ z & y & x \end{vmatrix}$ must be zero, because the sum of the elements of each column is zero.
Expanding the determinant, we have the required result.
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