Concept:
For a square matrix:
• Trace of a matrix is the sum of diagonal elements.
• Determinant properties help simplify structured matrices.
• Relations between variables can be obtained using trace and determinant conditions together.
Step 1: Use the trace condition.
The diagonal elements are:
\[
b+c,\quad c+a,\quad a+b.
\]
Therefore,
\[
\text{Trace}(A)=(b+c)+(c+a)+(a+b).
\]
\[
=2(a+b+c).
\]
Given:
\[
\text{Trace}(A)=18.
\]
Hence,
\[
2(a+b+c)=18.
\]
\[
a+b+c=9.
\]
Step 2: Use determinant property.
For the given structured matrix:
\[
\det(A)=(a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca).
\]
Since:
\[
a+b+c=9
\]
and
\[
\det(A)=234,
\]
we get:
\[
9(ab+bc+ca)=234.
\]
Therefore,
\[
ab+bc+ca=26.
\]
Hence,
\[
\boxed{ab+bc+ca=26}
\]