Maths Olympiad Prep

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Algebra Difficulty 5.7 AIME, harder Find the answer

1. (1) Determine the range of values for the following sum: S=aa+b+d+ba+b+c+cb+c+d+S=\frac{a}{a+b+d}+\frac{b}{a+b+c}+\frac{c}{b+c+d}+ da+c+d\frac{d}{a+c+d}, where a,b,c,da, b, c, d are any positive real numbers. (16th IMO Problem)

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

 1. (1) Since aa+b+d+ba+b+caa+b+c+d+ba+bbb+c+d+ca+b+c+d+da+b+c+d=1 Let a+,b=d=a,c=1, the sum 1,a=c+,b=d=1, the sum 2,\begin{array}{l} \text { 1. (1) Since } \frac{a}{a+b+d}+\frac{b}{a+b+c}\frac{a}{a+b+c+d}+\frac{b}{a+b}-\frac{b}{b+c+d}+\frac{c}{a+b+c+d}+\frac{d}{a+b+c+d}=1 \\ \text { Let } a \rightarrow+\infty, b=d=\sqrt{a}, c=1 \text {, the sum } \rightarrow 1, a=c \rightarrow+\infty, b=d=1 \text {, the sum } \rightarrow 2, \end{array}
Therefore, the range of values for SS is the open interval (1,2)(1,2).

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.