Maths Olympiad Prep

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Geometry Difficulty 5.7 AIME, harder Prove it China

Find all positive integers kk such that, for any positive numbers aa, bb and cc satisfying the inequality k(ab+bc+ca)>5(a2+b2+c2)k(ab + bc + ca) > 5(a^2 + b^2 + c^2), there must exist a triangle with aa, bb and cc as the length of its three sides respectively. (posed by Qian Zhangwang)

Solution

a2+b2+c2ab+bc+ca, a^2 + b^2 + c^2 \geq ab + bc + ca,
so k>5k > 5. Hence k6k \ge 6.

respectively, by the assumption in the problem, we have
k(1×1+1×2+1×2)5(12+12+22), k(1 \times 1 + 1 \times 2 + 1 \times 2) \le 5(1^2 + 1^2 + 2^2),
that is, k6k \le 6.
We will prove that k=6k = 6 satisfies the requirement below. There is no harm in assuming abca \le b \le c.
Since6(ab+bc+ca)>5(a2+b2+c2),so5c26(a+b)c+5a2+5b26ab<0,Δ=[6(a+b)]245(5a2+5b26ab)=64(ab(ab)2)64ab64(a+b)24=16(a+b)2.Thusc<6(a+b)+Δ106(a+b)+4(a+b)10=a+b. \begin{array}{lcl} \text{Since} & 6(ab + bc + ca) & > 5(a^2 + b^2 + c^2), \\[1em] \text{so} & 5c^2 - 6(a+b)c + 5a^2 + 5b^2 - 6ab & < 0, \\[1em] & \Delta = [6(a+b)]^2 - 4 \cdot 5(5a^2 + 5b^2 - 6ab) & \\ & = 64(ab - (a-b)^2) & \\ & \le 64ab \le 64 \cdot \frac{(a+b)^2}{4} & \\ & = 16(a+b)^2. & \\[1em] \text{Thus} & c < \frac{6(a+b) + \sqrt{\Delta}}{10} \le \frac{6(a+b) + 4(a+b)}{10} & \\ & = a+b. & \end{array}
Hence, there exists a triangle with a,ba, b, and cc being the length of three sides.

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