Problem: Let MNPQ be a square of side length 1, and A,B,C,D points on the sides MN, NP, PQ, and QM respectively such that AC⋅BD=45. Can the set {AB,BC,CD,DA} be partitioned into two subsets S1 and S2 of two elements each, so that each one of the sums of the elements of S1 and S2 are positive integers?
Solution
Solution: The answer is negative. Suppose such a partitioning was possible (Figure 7). Then AB+BC+CD+DA∈N. But (AB+BC)+(CD+DA)>AC+AC≥2, hence AB+BC+CD+DA>2.
On the other hand, AB+BC+CD+DA<(AN+NB)+(BP+PC)+(CQ+QD)+(DM+MA)=4, hence AB+BC+CD+DA=3.
Obviously one of the sums of the elements of S1 and S2 must be 1 and the other 2. Without any loss of generality, we may assume that the sum of the elements of S1 is 1 and the sum of the elements of S2 is 2. As AB+BC>AC≥1 we find that S1={AB,BC}. Similarly, S1 cannot contain two adjacent sides of the quadrilateral ABCD. Therefore, without any loss of generality, we may assume that S1={AD,BC} and S2={AB,CD}. Then AD+BC=1 and AB+CD=2.
We have AD⋅BC≤41(AD+CB)2=41 and AB⋅CD≤41(AB+CD)2=1.
According to Ptolemy's inequality, we have 45=AC⋅BD≤AB⋅CD+AD⋅BC=41+1=45 hence we have equality all around, which means the quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic, AD=BC=21 and AB=CD=1, hence ABCD is a rectangle of dimensions 1 and 21.
There are many different ways of proving that this configuration is not possible. For example:
- Suppose ABCD is a rectangle with AD=21, AB=1. Then we have AC=BD=25 and △ANB≡△CQD (Angle-Side-Angle). Denoting AM=x, MD=y we have AN=
Figure 7: Exercise G7.
1−x, BN=1−y and the following conditions need to be fulfilled for some x,y∈[0,1] (Pythagorean Theorem in triangles AMD, ANB, BB′C, where B′ is the projection of B on MQ): x2+y2=41,(1−x)2+(1−y)2=1 and 1+(2y−1)2=45 But 1+(2y−1)2=45 implies y∈{41,43}. If y=43, then x2+y2=41 cannot hold. If on the other hand y=41, then (1−x)2+(1−y)2=1 implies x=0, but then (1−x)2+(1−y)2=1 cannot hold. Therefore such a configuration is not possible.
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