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Algebra Difficulty 8.4 Shortlist Prove it Germany

Problem:

Let a1,a2,,an,ka_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{n}, k and MM be positive integers with the properties
1a1+1a2++1an=k and a1a2an=M. \frac{1}{a_{1}}+\frac{1}{a_{2}}+\ldots+\frac{1}{a_{n}}=k \quad \text{ and } \quad a_{1} a_{2} \ldots a_{n}=M .
Prove: For M>1M>1 the polynomial
P(x)=M(x+1)k(x+a1)(x+a2)(x+an) P(x)=M(x+1)^{k}-\left(x+a_{1}\right)\left(x+a_{2}\right) \ldots\left(x+a_{n}\right)
has no positive solutions.

Solution

Solution:

We show P(x)<0P(x)<0 for all x>0x>0, i.e. M(x+1)k<(x+a1)(x+an)M(x+1)^{k}<\left(x+a_{1}\right) \ldots\left(x+a_{n}\right) \Leftrightarrow a1a2an(x+1)1a1+1a2++1an<(x+a1)(x+an)i=1nai(x+1)1ai<i=1n(x+ai)a_{1} a_{2} \ldots a_{n}(x+1)^{\frac{1}{a_{1}}+\frac{1}{a_{2}}+\ldots+\frac{1}{a_{n}}}<\left(x+a_{1}\right) \ldots\left(x+a_{n}\right) \Leftrightarrow \prod_{i=1}^{n} a_{i}(x+1)^{\frac{1}{a_{i}}}<\prod_{i=1}^{n}\left(x+a_{i}\right).

For this we show that for every i((1in)i\left((1 \leq i \leq n)\right. the relation ai(x+1)1aix+ai(1)a_{i}(x+1)^{\frac{1}{a_{i}}} \leq x+a_{i}(1) holds, and that for at least one ii we even have ai(x+1)1ai<x+aia_{i}(x+1)^{\frac{1}{a_{i}}}<x+a_{i}. The claim then follows by multiplying over all ii.

From the AM-GM inequality for the numbers x+1,1,1,,1(ai1x+1,1,1, \ldots, 1\left(a_{i}-1\right. summands 1)) it follows that x+aiaix+1a\frac{x+a_{i}}{a_{i}} \geq \sqrt[a]{x+1}, which after multiplying by aia_{i} yields exactly (1). Equality holds precisely for ai=1a_{i}=1, and this cannot hold for all ii, since then M=1M=1 would follow, contradicting the assumption M>1M>1. Since for the given values all transformations are permissible, everything is proved.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement translated into English from de; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.