Let M be a nonempty set of positive reals so that, for every a, b, c in M, the number ab+bc+ca is rational. Prove that ba is rational for every a, b in M.
Solution
Let a, b, c be arbitrary elements of M. By hypothesis, ab+bc+ca is rational for all a, b, c in M.
Let us fix a and b in M, and let c vary over M.
For c=a, we have:
ab+bc+ca=ab+ba+aa=2ab+a2 which is rational.
For c=b, we have:
ab+bc+ca=ab+bb+ba=ab+b2+ba=2ab+b2 which is rational.
Now, consider the difference:
(2ab+a2)−(2ab+b2)=a2−b2 which is rational. Therefore, a2−b2 is rational for all a, b in M.
Now, for c arbitrary in M, ab+bc+ca is rational. Fix a and b, and let c vary.
Let c be arbitrary in M. Then ab+bc+ca is rational.
Let us consider ab+bc+ca as a function of c:
ab+bc+ca=ab+bc+ca=ab+c(b+a) So, for fixed a, b, as c varies over M, ab+c(a+b) is rational.
Let d=a+b. Then, for all c in M, ab+cd is rational.
Let c1, c2 be two elements of M. Then ab+c1d and ab+c2d are both rational.
Their difference is d(c1−c2), which is rational. Since d=a+b is a positive real, and c1, c2 are arbitrary in M, c1−c2 is rational up to scaling by d.
But we already have that a2−b2 is rational for all a, b in M.
Let us now fix a, b in M and consider a2−b2 is rational, so a2=b2+r for some rational r.
Now, a, b are positive reals, so a=b2+r.
Let us now consider ba.
Let x=ba, then a2=b2x2, so a2−b2=b2(x2−1) is rational.
But b2 is positive real, and x2−1 is real. So b2(x2−1) is rational for all a, b in M.
Now, fix b in M. Then for all a in M, b2(x2−1) is rational, where x=ba.
But b2 is a fixed positive real number, so x2−1 is rational up to scaling by b2.
Let s=b2(x2−1) rational, so x2=1+b2s, so x2 is rational.
Therefore, for all a, b in M, (ba)2 is rational.
Now, a, b are positive reals, so ba is positive real, and its square is rational. Therefore, ba is a positive real number whose square is rational, i.e., ba is a positive rational or a positive irrational whose square is rational.
But suppose ba is irrational and its square is rational, i.e., ba=q for some positive rational q.
Let us check if this is possible. Suppose M contains a=bq for some b in M and q positive rational.
But then, for a, b in M, ab+bc+ca must be rational for all c in M.
Let us check for a=bq, b in M, c arbitrary in M.
ab+bc+ca=ba+bc+ca=ba+c(b+a)=ba+c(b+a).
But ba=b2q, b+a=b+bq=b(1+q).
So ab+bc+ca=b2q+cb(1+q)=b2q+cb+cbq=cb+(b2+cb)q.
For this to be rational for all c in M, b2+cb must be zero unless q is rational, i.e., q is a perfect square.
Therefore, ba must be rational for all a, b in M.
Thus, ba is rational for all a, b in M.
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