# Solutions to two algebra problems for RMO practice

Problem 1.

If a, b, c are non-negative real numbers such that $(1+a)(1+b)(1+c)=8$, then prove that the product abc cannot exceed 1.

Solution I:

Given that $a \geq 0$, $b \geq 0$, $c \geq 0$, so certainly $abc>0$, $ab>0$, $bc>0$, and $ac>0$.

Now, $(1+a)(1+b) = 1 + a + b + ab$ and hence, $(1+a)(1+b)(1+c) = (1+a+b+ab)(1+c)= 1+a+b+ab+c +ac + bc + abc=8$, hence we get:

$a+b+c+ab+bc+ca+abc=7$Clearly, the presence of $a+b+c$ and $abc$ reminds us of the AM-GM inequality.

Here it is $AM \geq GM$.

So, $\frac{a+b+c}{3} \geq (abc)^{1/3}$.

Also, we can say: $\frac{ab+bc+ca}{3} \geq (ab.bc.ca)^{1/3}$. Now, let $x=(abc)^{1/3}$.

So, $8 \geq 1+3x+3x^{2}+x^{3}$

that is, $8 \geq (1+x)^{3}$, or $2 \geq 1+x$, that is, $x \leq 1$So, this is a beautiful application of arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality twice. 🙂 🙂

Problem 2:

If a, b, c are three rational numbers, then prove that :$\frac{1}{(a-b)^{2}} + \frac{1}{(b-c)^{2}} + \frac{1}{(c-a)^{2}}$ is always the square of a rational number.

Solution 2:

Let $x=\frac{1}{a-b}$, $y=\frac{1}{b-c}$, $z=\frac{1}{c-a}$. It can be very easily shown that $\frac{1}{x}+ \frac{1}{y} + \frac{1}{z} =0$, or $xy+yz+zx=0$. So, the given expression $x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=(x+y+z)^{2}$ is a perfect square !!! BINGO! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Nalin Pithwa.

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