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Algebra Difficulty 4.6 AIME Prove it Turkey

Let a>1a > 1, b>1b > 1, c>1c > 1, d>1d > 1, xx, yy be real numbers satisfying
ax+by=(a2+b2)x and cx+dy=2y(cd)y/2. a^x + b^y = (a^2 + b^2)^x \text{ and } c^x + d^y = 2^y (cd)^{y/2}.
Prove that x<yx < y.

Solution

On the contrary suppose that xy=t0x - y = t \ge 0. From cx+dy=2y(cd)y/2c^x + d^y = 2^y (cd)^{y/2} we get
(cd)yct+1=(2cd)y \left(\frac{c}{d}\right)^y \cdot c^t + 1 = \left(2\sqrt{\frac{c}{d}}\right)^y
Since t0t \ge 0 and c>1c > 1 we have ct1c^t \ge 1 and
(2cd)y(cd)y+1 \left(2\sqrt{\frac{c}{d}}\right)^y \ge \left(\frac{c}{d}\right)^y + 1
Let cd=u\sqrt{\frac{c}{d}} = u. Since
2yuy+uy2 2^y \ge u^y + u^{-y} \ge 2
we get y1y \ge 1 and x=y+t1x = y + t \ge 1. Therefore,
ax+by=(a2+b2)xa2x+b2x a^x + b^y = (a^2 + b^2)^x \ge a^{2x} + b^{2x}
But ax<a2xa^x < a^{2x} and bybx<b2xb^y \le b^x < b^{2x}. Contradiction shows that x<yx < y.

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