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Algebra Difficulty 4.5 AIME Prove it India

Problem:
Let a,b,c,x,y,za, b, c, x, y, z be positive real numbers such that a+b+c=x+y+za + b + c = x + y + z and abc=xyza b c = x y z. Further, suppose that ax<y<zca \leq x < y < z \leq c and a<b<ca < b < c. Prove that a=xa = x, b=yb = y and c=zc = z.

Solution

Solution:
Let
f(t)=(tx)(ty)(tz)(ta)(tb)(tc) f(t) = (t - x)(t - y)(t - z) - (t - a)(t - b)(t - c)
Then f(t)=ktf(t) = k t for some constant kk. Note that ka=f(a)=(ax)(ay)(az)0k a = f(a) = (a - x)(a - y)(a - z) \leq 0 and hence k0k \leq 0. Similarly, kc=f(c)=(cx)(cy)(cz)0k c = f(c) = (c - x)(c - y)(c - z) \geq 0 and hence k0k \geq 0. Combining the two, it follows that k=0k = 0 and that f(a)=f(c)=0f(a) = f(c) = 0. These equalities imply that a=xa = x and c=zc = z, and then it also follows that b=yb = y.

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