Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
Source: The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol. 118, No. 3 (March 2011), pp. 275-282
Published by: Mathematical Association of America
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.4169/amer.math.monthly.118.03.275 .
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PROBLEMS
11558. Proposed by Andrew McFarland, Płock, Poland. Given four concentric circles,
find a necessary and sufficient condition that there be a rectangle with one corner on
each circle.
11559. Proposed by Michel Bataille, Rouen, France. For positive p and x ∈ (0, 1),
define the sequence hxn i by x0 = 1, x1 = x, and, for n ≥ 1,
pxn−1 xn + (1 − p)xn2
xn+1 = .
(1 + p)xn−1 − pxn
Find positive real numbers α, β such that limn→∞ n α xn = β.
11560. Proposed by Gregory Galperin, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, and
Yury Ionin, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI.
(a) The diagonals of a convex pentagon P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 divide it into 11 regions, of which
10 are triangular. Of these 10, five have two vertices on the diagonal P0 P2 . Prove that if
each of these has rational area, then the other five triangles, and the original pentagon,
all have rational areas.
(b) Let P0 , P1 , . . . , Pn−1 , n ≥ 5 be points in the plane. Suppose no three are collinear,
and, interpreting indices on Pk as periodic modulo n, suppose that for all k, Pk−1 Pk+1
is not parallel to Pk Pk+2 . Let Q k be the intersection of Pk−1 Pk+1 with Pk Pk+2 . Let αk
be the area of triangle Pk Q k Pk+1 , and let βk be the area of triangle Pk+1 Q k Q k+1 . For
0 ≤ j ≤ 2n − 1, let
(
α j/2 , if j is even;
γj =
β( j−1)/2 , if j is odd.
Interpreting indices on γ j as periodic modulo 2n, find the least m such that if m con-
secutive γ j are rational, then all are rational.
doi:10.4169/amer.math.monthly.118.03.275
n Z n Z
!2
X 1 X 1
f k2 (x) d x ≥ f k (x) d x , and
k=1 0 k=1 0
R1
f k2 (x) d x
n
X
2 ≥ n .
0 2
R
1
k=1
0 k
f (x) d x
11562. Proposed by Pál Péter Dályay, Szeged, Hungary. For positive a, b, c, and z,
let 9a,b,c (z) = 0((za + b + c)/(z + 2)), where 0 denotes the gamma function. Show
that 9a,b,c (z)9b,c,a (z)9c,a,b (z) is increasing in z for z ≥ 1.
11563. Proposed by Vlad Matei (student), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Roma-
nia. For each integer k ≥ 2, find all nonconstant f in Z[x] such that for every prime
p, f ( p) has no nontrivial kth-power divisor.
SOLUTIONS
Explaining a Polynomial
11403 [2008, 949]. Proposed by Yaming Yu, University of California–Irvine, Irvine,
CA. Let n be an integer greater than 1, and let f n be the polynomial given by
n i−1
X n Y
f n (x) = (−x)n−i (x + j).
i=0
i j=0
Mean Inequalities
11434 [2009, 463]. Proposed by Slavko Simic, Mathematical Institute SANU, Bel-
grade, Serbia. Fix n ∈ N with n ≥ 2. Let x1 , . . . , xn be distinct real numbers, and
let p1 , . . . , pn be positive numbers summing to 1. Let
Pn 3
Pn 3
k=1 pk x k − k=1 pk x k
S = P
n 2
Pn 2 .
3 p
k=1 k kx − p x
k=1 k k
Also solved by R. Bagby, R. Chapman (U.K.), M. P. Cohen, W. J. Cowieson, P. P. Dályay (Hungary), H. Deh-
ghan (Iran), P. J. Fitzsimmons, D. Grinberg, E. A. Herman, T. Konstantopoulos (U.K.), O. Kouba (Syria), J. H.
Lindsey II, O. P. Lossers (Netherlands), J. Posch, K. Schilling, B. Schmuland (Canada), R. Stong, M. Tetiva
(Romania), B. Tomper, BSI Problems Group (Germany), GCHQ Problem Solving Group (U.K.), Microsoft
Research Problems Group, and the proposer.
Extrema
11449 [2009, 647]. Proposed by Michel Bataille, Rouen, France. (corrected) Find the
maximum and minimum values of
(a 3 + b3 + c3 )2
(b2 + c2 )(c2 + a 2 )(a 2 + b2 )
given that a + b ≥ c > 0, b + c ≥ a > 0, and c + a ≥ b > 0.
Solution by Jim Simons, Cheltenham, U.K. Call this big expression X . Since X is
homogeneous, we may assume a 2 + b2 + c2 = 1. The feasible region then consists
of a triangular patch on the positive octant of the unit sphere, excluding the ver-
tices (where one of a, b, c is zero), but including the interiors of the sides (where
two of a, b, c are equal). Using spherical polar coordinates, we may set (a, b, c) =
2
cos3 α + sin3 α(cos3 θ + sin3 θ )
X=
sin2 α cos2 α + sin2 α sin2 θ cos2 α + sin2 α cos2 θ
2
cos3 α + sin3 α(cos3 θ + sin3 θ )
= .
sin2 α cos4 α + cos2 α sin2 α + sin4 α sin2 θ cos2 θ
If f (θ ) = cos3 θ + sin3 θ , then f 0 (θ) = 3 cos θ sin θ (sin θ − cos θ ). In the feasible re-
gion for θ , this is positive for θ > π/4 and negative for θ < π/4. Thus f , and with
it, the numerator of X for fixed α, is less at θ = π/4 than at any other feasible θ .
Similarly, if g(θ) = sin2 θ cos2 θ , g, and with it, the denominator of X for fixed α, is
increasing in θ for θ < π/4 and decreasing in θ for θ > π/4. Thus X is, for fixed α,
smallest at θ = π/4, and greatest at an edge of the feasible region. By symmetry, the
minimum value of X is 9/8, attained when a = b = c.
From the foregoing, the maximum value of X on the closure of the feasible re-
gion occurs at a point where, with respect to any translation into spherical coordi-
nates, θ is extremal. The only such points are the corners of the region. At (a, b, c) =
(2−1/2 , 2−1/2 , 0), X = 2. However, this maximum is not attained because these corners
are not in the feasible region.
Also solved by R. Agnew, A. Alt, R. Bagby, D. Beckwith, H. Caerols & R. Pellicer (Chile), R. Chapman
(U.K.), H. Chen, C. Curtis, Y. Dumont (France), D. Fleischman, J.-P. Grivaux (France), E. A. Herman, F.
Holland (Ireland), T. Konstantopoulos (U.K.), O. Kouba (Syria), A. Lenskold, J. H. Lindsey II, P. Perfetti
(Italy), N. C. Singer, R. Stong, T. Tam, R. Tauraso (Italy), M. Tetiva (Romania), E. I. Verriest, Z. Vörös
(Hungary), S. Wagon, G. D. White, GCHQ Problem Solving Group (U.K.), Microsoft Research Problems
Group, and the proposer.
11450 [2009, 647]. Proposed by Cosmin Pohoata (student), National College “Tudor
Vianu,” Bucharest, Romania. Let A be the unit ball in Rn . Find
min ai − a j .
max
a∈A 1≤i< j≤n
Solution by Omran Kouba, Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology,
Damascus, Syria. Let Mn denote the desired maximum. p It is implicit in the statement
of the problem that n ≥ 2. We show that Mn = 12/(n(n 2 − 1)).
Let (a1 , . . . , an ) be an element of A at which the maximum is achieved, and
let Mn = min{|ai − a j | : 1 ≤ i < j ≤ n}. There is a permutation σ of the set
{1, 2, . . . , n} such that aσ (1) ≤ aσ (2) ≤ · · · ≤ aσ (n) . Write for simplicity b j = aσ ( j) .
For j > i, we then have
j
X
b j − bi = (bk − bk−1 ) ≥ ( j − i)Mn .
k=i+1
n n
!2
X X
≤ 2n ak2 − 2 ak ≤ 2n,
k=1 k=1
n n
!2
X X X n 2 (n 2 − 1)
( j − i) = 2n
2 2
k −2 k = .
1≤i, j≤n k=1 k=1
6
p
It follows that Mn2 ≤ 12/(n(n 2 − 1)), so Mn ≤ 12/(n(n 2 − 1)).
Conversely, if we consider (a1(0) , a2(0) , . . . , an(0 ) defined by
s
(0) 12 n+1
ak = k− , k = 1, 2, . . . , n,
n(n 2 − 1) 2
A Cauchy–Schwarz Puzzle
11458 [2009, 747]. Proposed by Cezar Lupu (student), University of Bucharest,
Bucharest, Romania, and Vicenţiu Rădulescu, Institute of Mathematics “Simon Stoi-
low” of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania. Let a1 , . . . , an be nonnegative
and let r be a positive integer. Show that
2
X i r j r ai a j X n X i r j r k r ai a j ak
≤ m r −1 am .
1≤i, j≤n
i + j −1 m=1 1≤i, j,k≤n
i + j +k−2
An Orthocenter Inequality
11461 [2009, 844]. Proposed by Panagiote Ligouras, Leonardo da Vinci High School,
Noci, Italy. Let a, b, and c be the lengths of the sides opposite vertices A, B, and C of
an acute triangle. Let H be the orthocenter. Let da be the distance from H to side BC,
and similarly for db and dc . Show that
1/4
1 2 3 1 1 1
≥ √ +√ +√ .
da + db + dc 3 abc bc ca ab
An Erroneous Claim
11465 [2009, 845]. Proposed by Pantelimon George Popescu, Polytechnic University
of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania, and José Luis Dı́az-Barrero, Polytechnic University
of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. Consider three simple closed curves in the plane, of
lengths p1 , p2 , and p3 , enclosing areas A1 , A2 , and A3 , respectively. Show that if
p3 = p1 + p2 and A3 = A1 + A2 , then 8π A3 ≤ p32 .
Solution by the Texas State University Problem Solvers Group, San Marcos, TX. The
problem as stated is false. Consider the following counterexample. Let the first curve
be a square of side 1, so p1 = 4 and A1 = 1. Let the second curve be a square √ with
p2 = 40 and√A2 = 100. Let the third curve be a rectangle with sides 11 + 2 5 and
101/(11 + 2 5 ) so that p3 = 44 and A3 = 101. These three curves fulfill the require-
ments of the problem, and yet 8π A3 > p32 .
Let us incorporate the additional requirement that p12 + p22 = 2 p1 p2 . Then the re-
quired inequality can be proved as follows. The isoperimetric inequality applied to any
of the curves is
p 2
i
Ai ≤ π ,
2π
and thus 4π Ai ≤ pi2 . Therefore
4π A3 = 4π A1 + 4π A2 ≤ p12 + p22 .
With the newly-added condition we get
8π A3 = 8π A1 + 8π A2 ≤ 2 p12 + 2 p22 = p12 + p22 + 2 p1 p2 = ( p1 + p2 )2 = p32 .