Let a,b and c be positive real numbers such that a2+ab+b2b2+bc+c2c2+ca+a2=9=52=49 Compute the value of a249b2−33bc+9c2.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
Consider a triangle ABC with Fermat point P such that AP=a,BP=b,CP=c. Then AB2=AP2+BP2−2AP⋅BPcos(120∘) by the Law of Cosines, which becomes AB2=a2+ab+b2 and hence AB=3. Similarly, BC=52 and AC=7. Furthermore, we have BC2=52=AB2+BC2−2AB⋅BCcos∠BAC=32+72−2⋅3⋅7cos∠BAC=58−42cos∠BAC And so cos∠BAC=71. Invert about A with arbitrary radius r. Let B′,P′,C′ be the images of B,P,C respectively. Since ∠APB=∠AB′P′=120∘ and ∠APC=∠AC′P′=120∘, we note that ∠B′P′C′=120∘−∠BAC, and so cos∠B′P′C′=cos(120∘−∠BAC)=cos120∘cos∠BAC−sin120∘sin∠BAC=−21(71)+23(743)=1411 Furthermore, using the well-known result B′C′=AB⋅ACr2BC for an inversion about A, we have B′P′=AB⋅APBPr2=a⋅3br2=3abr2 and similarly P′C′=7acr2,B′C′=21r252. Applying the Law of Cosines to B′P′C′ gives us B′C′2⟹21252r4⟹21252⟹21252=B′P′2+P′C2−2B′P′⋅P′C′cos(120∘−∠BAC)=9a2b2r4+49a2c2r4−147a211bcr4=9a2b2+49a2c2−147a211bc=212a249b2−33bc+9c2 and so a249b2−33bc+9c2=52. Motivation: the desired sum looks suspiciously like the result of some Law of Cosines, so we should try building a triangle with sides a7b and a3c. Getting the −a33bc term is then a matter of setting cosθ=1411. Now there are two possible leaps: noticing that cosθ=cos(120−∠BAC), or realizing that it's pretty difficult to contrive a side of a7b - but it's much easier to contrive a side of 3ab. Either way leads to the natural inversion idea, and the rest is a matter of computation.
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