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China Mathematical Competition

Geometry Difficulty 5.1 AIME, harder Prove it China

Suppose the included angle between non-zero vectors a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} in the plane is π3\frac{\pi}{3}. If ∣a⃗∣,∣b⃗∣,∣a⃗+b⃗∣|\vec{a}|, |\vec{b}|, |\vec{a} + \vec{b}| form arithmetic sequence in order, find the value of ∣a⃗∣:∣b⃗∣:∣a⃗+b⃗∣|\vec{a}| : |\vec{b}| : |\vec{a} + \vec{b}|.

Solution

Denote s=∣a⃗∣s = |\vec{a}|, t=∣b⃗∣t = |\vec{b}|, and then s,t>0s, t > 0. Note that the included angle between a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} is π3\frac{\pi}{3}, and we have
∣a⃗+b⃗∣2=a⃗2+(b⃗)2+2a⃗⋅b⃗=s2+t2+2stcos⁡π3=s2+t2+st. \begin{aligned} |\vec{a} + \vec{b}|^2 &= \vec{a}^2 + (\vec{b})^2 + 2\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} \\ &= s^2 + t^2 + 2st \cos \frac{\pi}{3} \\ &= s^2 + t^2 + st. \end{aligned}
By the condition, we know that s,t,s2+t2+sts, t, \sqrt{s^2 + t^2 + st} form arithmetic sequence in order. Then there is s2+t2+st=2t−s\sqrt{s^2 + t^2 + st} = 2t - s. Squaring and arranging the above equation gives 5st−3t2=05st - 3t^2 = 0. And since t≠0t \neq 0, it follows that 5s=3t5s = 3t, i.e., s:t=3:5s : t = 3 : 5.

Therefore, ∣a⃗∣:∣b⃗∣:∣a⃗+b⃗∣=3:5:7|\vec{a}| : |\vec{b}| : |\vec{a} + \vec{b}| = 3 : 5 : 7.

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