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Mathematical Reflection Issue 4 2016

This document contains solutions to two math problems: 1) It proves that for positive real numbers x, y, z such that x + y + z = 3, the expression xy/(4-y) + yz/(4-z) + zx/(4-x) is less than or equal to 1. 2) It proves that for a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD with midpoints M and N of diagonals AC and BD, the length of MN is greater than or equal to half the absolute value of the difference between the lengths of AC and BD.

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Viet Quoc Hoang
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105 views

Mathematical Reflection Issue 4 2016

This document contains solutions to two math problems: 1) It proves that for positive real numbers x, y, z such that x + y + z = 3, the expression xy/(4-y) + yz/(4-z) + zx/(4-x) is less than or equal to 1. 2) It proves that for a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD with midpoints M and N of diagonals AC and BD, the length of MN is greater than or equal to half the absolute value of the difference between the lengths of AC and BD.

Uploaded by

Viet Quoc Hoang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mathematical Reflection Issue 4

Viet Hoang Thao Le


Takapuna Grammar School University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand, July 19, 2016

1 J381
Let x, y, z be positive real numbers such that x + y + z = 3. Prove that
xy yz zx
+ + 1
4y 4z 4x
Solution. We will take advantage of the condition x + y + z = 3 and write the
inequality as follows, X x
1
cyc
1 + x +z
X
where denotes the cyclic summation over x, y and z respectively.
cyc
After clearing all the denonimators, one obtains
5 + xy 2 + yz 2 + zx2 + xyz (x + y + z)2

However, since x + y + z = 3, it suffcies to show that


xy 2 + yz 2 + zx2 + xyz 4
To prove this, without loss of generality, assume that x is inclusively between y
and z. Thus,
z(x y)(x z) 0
2
z(x x(y + z) + yz) 0
x2 z + yz 2 xz(y + z)
2 2 2
xy + yz + zx + xyz xz(y + z) + xy(y + z) = x(y + z)2
However, using AM-GM inequality for 3 positive real numbers 2x, (y + z) and
(y + z), one has
3
23

2 1 1 2(x + y + z)
x(y + z) = (2x)(y + z)(y + z) = =4
2 2 3 2
Hence, we complete our proof here. 

1
Figure 1: Cyclic quadrilater ABCD

2 S381
Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral and M and N be the midpoints of the
diagonals AC and BD. Prove that
1
MN |AC BD|
2

Solution. We notice one interesing property between ~a and ~b such that

~a ~b = |~a| |~b| cos(~a, ~b) |~a| |~b|


c

The equality occurs when cos(~a, ~b) = 1 or ~a and ~b are parallel vectors with the
c
same direction.
Let G and H be midpoints of AB and CD respectively. In the triangle ACD
with G and M being midpoints of CD and AC so GM ||AD and GM = 1/2
AD. Similarly, one should obtain N H||AD and N H = 1/2 AD. This shows
N H||GM and N H = GM . Hence, M HN G is a parallelogram.
Therefore,
1
|M N | = |M G + M H| = (AD BC)

2
Hence, it suffices to show that

|AD BC| |AC BD|

2
Squaring both sides gives

AD2 + BC 2 2AD BC AC 2 + BD2 2AC BD

Since ABCD is concyclic, using Ptolemy theorem, we have



AC BD = AD BC + CD AB AD BC + CD AB

Thus, it is enough to show that AD2 +BC 2 +2CDAB AC 2 +BD2 . However,


it can be seen that

AC 2 AD2 = (AC AD)(AC + AD)

= DC (AC + AD)

Similarly, one should obtain BD2 BC 2 = CD (BD + BC). Thus,


(AC 2 AD2 ) + (BD2 BC 2 ) CD (BD + BC AC AD)

= CD (BA + BA) = 2CD BA 2CD AB

Hence, we complete our solution here. 

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