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Number theory Difficulty 7.6 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Find all integers n3n \ge 3 such that among any nn positive real numbers a1a_1 , a2a_2 , \dots , ana_n with max(a1,a2,,an)nmin(a1,a2,,an),\max(a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n) \le n \cdot \min(a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n), there exist three that are the side lengths of an acute triangle.

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

Solution

Without loss of generality, assume that the set {a}\{a\} is ordered from least to greatest so that the bounding condition becomes anna1.a_n \le n \cdot a_1. Now set biaia1,b_i \equiv \frac{a_i}{a_1}, and since a triangle with sidelengths from {a}\{a\} will be similar to the corresponding triangle from {b},\{b\}, we simply have to show the existence of acute triangles in {b}.\{b\}. Note that b1=1b_1 = 1 and for all ii , bin.b_i \le n.
Now three arbitrary sidelengths xx , yy , and zz , with xyz,x \le y \le z, will form a valid triangle if and only if x+y>z.x+y>z. Furthermore, this triangle will be acute if and only if x2+y2>z2.x^2 + y^2 > z^2. However, the first inequality can actually be inferred from the second, since x+y>zx2+y2+2xy>z2x+y>z \longrightarrow x^2 + y^2 +2xy > z^2 and 2xy2xy is trivially greater than 0.0. So we just need to find all nn such that there is necessarily a triplet of bb 's for which bi2+bj2>bk2b_i^2 + b_j^2 > b_k^2 (where bi<bj<bkb_i < b_j < b_k ).
We now make another substitution: cibi2.c_i \equiv b_i ^2. So c1=1c_1 = 1 and for all ii , cin2.c_i \le n^2. Now we examine the smallest possible sets {c}\{c\} for small nn for which the conditions of the problem are not met. Note that by smallest, we mean the set whose greatest element is as small as possible. If n=3n=3 , then the smallest possible set, call it {s3},\{s_3\}, is trivially {1,1,2}\{1,1,2\} , since c1c_1 and c2c_2 are obviously minimized and c3c_3 follows as minimal. Using this as the base case, we see inductively that in general {sn}\{s_n\} is the set of the first nn Fibonacci numbers. To show this note that if {sn}={F0,F1,...Fn}\{s_n\} = \{F_0, F_1, ... F_n\} , then {sn+1}={F0,F1,...Fn,cn+1}.\{s_{n+1}\} = \{F_0, F_1, ... F_n, c_{n+1}\}. The smallest possible value for cn+1c_{n+1} is the sum of the two greatest values of {sn}\{s_n\} which are Fn1F_{n-1} and FnF_n . But these sum to Fn+1F_{n+1} so {sn+1}={F0,F1,...Fn+1}\{s_{n+1}\} = \{F_0, F_1, ... F_{n+1}\} and our induction is complete.
Now since we know that the Fibonacci set is the smallest possible set which does not satisfy the conditions of the problem, then any set {c}\{c\} whose greatest term is less than Fn1F_{n-1} must satisfy the conditions. And since {c}\{c\} is bounded between 11 and n2n^2 , then the conditions of the problem are met if and only if Fn1>n2F_{n-1} > n^2 . The first nn for which this restriction is satisfied is n=13n=13 and the exponential behavior of the Fibonacci numbers ensure that every nn greater than 1313 will also satisfy this restriction. So the final solution set is {n13}\boxed{\{n \ge 13\}} .

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