https://tomcircle.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/useful-summation-technique/#like-20869
inequalities
|log{xx_{1}}| + |log{xx_{2}}| + …+ |log{xx_{n}}| + |log{x/x_{1}}| + |log{x/x_{2}}| + …+|log{x/x_{n}}|= |log{x_{1}}+ log{x_{2}}+ ….+log{x_{n}}|
Solve the following :
Find all positive real numbers such that
…let us say this is given equality A
Solution:
Use the following inequality: with equality iff
So, we observe that : ,
Hence, LHS of the given equality is greater than or equal to:
Now, let us consider the RHS of the given equality A:
we have to use the following standard result:
So, applying the above to RHS of A:
.
But, RHS is equal to LHS as given in A:
That is,
Now, just a few steps before we proved that LHS is also greater than or equal to : That is,
The above two inequalities are like the following: and
; so what is the conclusion? The first inequality means
or
; clearly it means the only valid solution is
.
Using the above brief result, we have here:
Hence, we get , which in turn means that (by applying the definition of absolute value):
, which implies that
.
Substituting these values in the given logarithmic absolute value equation, we get:
, that is
, and as
, this implies that
which in turn means
also.
Some random problems in algebra (part b) for RMO and INMO training
1) Solve in real numbers the system of equations:
Hints: do you see some quadratics ? Can we reduce the number of variables? …Try such thinking on your own…
2) Let be real numbers such that
and
. Prove that
.
3) Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that
More later
Nalin Pithwa.
Some random assorted (part A) problems in algebra for RMO and INMO training
You might want to take a serious shot at each of these. In the first stage of attack, apportion 15 minutes of time for each problem. Do whatever you can, but write down your steps in minute detail. In the last 5 minutes, check why the method or approach does not work. You can even ask — or observe, for example, that if surds are there in an equation, the equation becomes inherently tough. So, as a child we are tempted to think — how to get rid of the surds ?…and so on, thinking in math requires patience and introversion…
So, here are the exercises for your math gym today:
1) Prove that if x, y, z are non-zero real numbers with , then
2) Let a b, c, d be complex numbers with . Prove that
3) Let a, b, c, d be integers. Prove that divides
4) Solve in complex numbers the equation:
5) Solve in real numbers the equation:
6) Find the real solutions to the equation:
7) Solve the equation:
8) Prove that if x, y, z are real numbers such that , then the ratio
equals
if and only if
.
9) Solve in real numbers the equation:
10) Find the real solutions to the system of equations:
More later,
Nalin Pithwa
PS: if you want hints, do let me know…but you need to let me know your approach/idea first…else it is spoon-feeding…
Solutions to two algebra problems for RMO practice
Problem 1.
If a, b, c are non-negative real numbers such that , then prove that the product abc cannot exceed 1.
Solution I:
Given that ,
,
, so certainly
,
,
, and
.
Now, and hence,
, hence we get:
.ย Clearly, the presence ofย
and
reminds us of the AM-GM inequality.
Here it is .
So, .
Also, we can say: . Now, let
.
So,
that is, , or
, that is,
.ย So, this is a beautiful application of arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality twice. ๐ ๐
Problem 2:
If a, b, c are three rational numbers, then prove that : is always the square of a rational number.
Solution 2:
Let ,
,
. It can be very easily shown that
, or
. So, the given expression
is a perfect square !!!ย BINGO! ๐ ๐ ๐
Nalin Pithwa.
Inequalities and mathematical induction: RMO sample problems-solutions
Problem:
1. Prove the inequality —- for all natural numbers greater than or equal to 1.
Proof 1:
First consider the following: . Let us prove this claim first and then use it to prove what is asked: Towards, that end, consider
, cancelling off the common factors in numerator and denominator of RHS. (note this can also be proved by mathematical induction! ๐ )
In the given inequality:
we need to prove
consider where
LHS = , this is an AP with first term 2 and nth term
and common difference 4; there are n factors “2”; hence, we
so we get
; multiplying and dividing RHS of this by
, we get the desired inequality. Remember the inequality is less than or equal to.
Problem 2:
Establish the Bernoulli inequality: If , then
.
Solution 2:
Apply the binomial theorem, which in turn, is proved by mathematical induction ! ๐
Problem 3:
For all natural numbers greater than or equal to 1, prove the following by mathematical induction:
Proof 3:
Let the given proposition be P(n).
Step 1: Check if P(1) is true. Towards that end:
and $latex RHS=2-\frac{1}{1}=2-1=1$ and hence, P(1) is true.
Step 2: Let P(n) be true for some ,
. That is, the following is true:
Add to both sides of above inequality, we get the following:
Now, the RHS in above is . We want this to be less than or equal to
. Now,
,
, so what we have to prove is the following:
, that is, we want to prove that
, that is, we want
, that is, we want
, which is obviously true. QED.
Cheers,
Nalin Pithwa.
An easy inequality from Nordic mathematical contests !?
Reference: Nordic Mathematical Contest, 1987-2009, R. Todev.
Question:
Let a, b, and c be real numbers different from 0ย and . Prove that inequality
holds. When does the equality hold?
Proof:
We know that a, b and c are real, distinct and also non-zero and also that .
Hence, , we have
, or
On simplifying this, we immediately have
.
A sufficient condition for equality is . If
, then
. which makes the proved inequality a strict one. So,
is a necessary condition for equality too.
-Nalin Pithwa.
There are many “inequalities” ! :-( :-) !
Reference: R. Todev, Nordic Mathematical Contests, 1987-2009.
Question:
Let a, b, and c be positive real numbers. Prove that .
Solution:
The arithmetic-geometric inequality yields
,
or …call this relation I.
On the other hand, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality implies
….call this relation II.
We arrive at the inequality we desire by combining relations I and II. Hence, the proof. QED.
Cheers,
Nalin Pithwa.
A “primer” on geometric inequalities for pre-RMO and RMO
The comparison of lengths is more basic than comparison of other geometric quantities (such as angles, areas and volumes). A geometric inequality that involves only the lengths is called a distance inequality.
Some simple axioms and theorems on inequalities in Euclidean geometry are usually the starting point to solve the problem of distance inequality, in which most frequently used tools are:
Proposition I:
The shortest line connecting point A with point B is the segment AB.
The direct corollary of proposition 1 is as follows:
Proposition 2:
(Triangle inequality)
For arbitrary three points A, B and C (lying in the same plane), we have , the equality holds iff the three points are collinear.
Remark:
In most literature, any symbol of a geometric object also denotes its quantity according to the context.
Proposition 3:
In a triangle, the longer side has the larger opposite angle. And, conversely, the longer angle has the longer opposite side.
Proposition 4:
The median of a triangle on a side is shorter than the half-sum of the other two sides.
Proposition 5:
If a convex polygon is within another one, then the outside convex polygon’s perimeter is larger.
Proposition 6:
Any segment in a convex polygon is either less than the longest side or the longest diagonal of the convex polygon.
Here, is a classic example:
Example 1:
Let be the sides of a
. Prove that
.
Solution 1:
By the triangle inequality, yields
Similarly, and
Adding up the above three inequalities, we get the required inequality.
Example 2:
Let AB be the longest side of , and P a point in the triangle, prove that
.
Solution/Proof 2:
Let D be the intersection point of CP and AB. (Note P is in the interior of the triangle ABC). Then, or
is not acute. Without loss of generality, we assume that
is not acute. Applying proposition 3 to
, we obtain
. Therefore,
….call this asย relationship “a”.
Furthermore, applying triangle inequality to , we have
…call this as relationship “b”.
Combining “a” and “b”, we obtain the required inequality immediately. QED.
Remarks: (1) If AB is not the longest, then the conclusion may not be true. (2) If point P on the plane of regular triangle ABC, P is not on the circumcircle of the triangle, then the sum of any two of PA, PB, and PC is longer than the remaining one. That is, PA, PB and PC consist of a triangle’s three sides.
Quiz:
Prove that a closed polygonal line with perimeter 1 can be put inside a circle with radius 0.25.
Reference:
Geometric Inequalities, Vol 12, Gangsong Leng, translated by Yongming Liu.
Amazon India link:
Cheers,
Nalin Pithwa.
An inequality for harmonic numbers — RMO Inequalities — Basics
The Harmonic Numbers for
are defined by
For instance,
Use mathematical induction to show that whenever n is a non-negative integer.
Solution:
To carry out the proof, let P(n) be the proposition that
Basis step:
P(0) is true because
Inductive Step:
The inductive hypothesis is the statement that is true, that is,
where k is a non-negative integer. We must show that if is true, then
, which states that
, is also true. So, assuming the inductive hypothesis, it follows that
…this step follows from the definition of harmonic number
….this step again follows by the definition of
th harmonic number
…this step follows by the inductive hypothesis
…because there are
terms each greater than or equal to
….canceling a common factor of
in second term
This establishes the inductive step of the proof.
We have completed the basis step and the inductive step. Thus, by mathematical induction is true for all non-negative integers. That is, the inequality
for the harmonic numbers is valid for all non-negative integers n. QED.
Remark:
The inequality established here shows that the harmonic series is a divergent series. This is an important example in the study of infinite series.
Note:
Google, or through some other literature, find out why harmonic numbers are termed so. You will understand something more beautiful, more deeper !!
–Nalin Pithwa.