Solving quadratic system If $a,b,c\in \mathbb{R}$ satisfy the system 
$a^2+ab+b^2=9$;
$b^2+bc+c^2=16$;.
$c^2+ac+a^2=25$.
Find $ab+ac+bc$

If you subtract the first equation from the second, you get $c^2-a^2 + bc - ab = 7,$ so $(c-a)(c+a +b) = 7.$ You get similar equations (all with an $a+b+c$ factor) when you subtract the second from the third, etc, which gives you a linear system in $a, b, c$ (you know $a+b+c \neq 0,$ from the first sentence).
