Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1409

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.3 Prove it Irish Mathematical Olympiad · Ireland

Suppose xx, yy are non-negative real numbers such that x+y≤1x + y \le 1. Prove that
8xy≤5x(1−x)+5y(1−y), 8xy \le 5x(1-x) + 5y(1-y),
and determine the cases of equality.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

Let z=x+yz = x + y. Then 0≤z≤10 \le z \le 1, whence z(1−z)≥0z(1-z) \ge 0. Now
5x(1−x)+5y(1−y)−8xy=5(x+y)−5(x2+y2)−8xy=5z−5(x2+2xy+y2)+2xy=5z−5z2+2xy=5z(1−z)+2xy≥0, \begin{aligned} 5x(1-x) + 5y(1-y) - 8xy &= 5(x+y) - 5(x^2+y^2) - 8xy \\ &= 5z - 5(x^2+2xy+y^2) + 2xy \\ &= 5z - 5z^2 + 2xy \\ &= 5z(1-z) + 2xy \\ &\ge 0, \end{aligned}

Solution 2:

From x+y≤1x+y \le 1 we obtain y≤1−xy \le 1-x and x≤1−yx \le 1-y. As x≥0x \ge 0 and y≥0y \ge 0, these imply xy≤x(1−x)xy \le x(1-x) and xy≤y(1−y)xy \le y(1-y). Multiplying both by 5 and adding them we obtain
10xy≤5x(1−x)+5y(1−y). 10xy \le 5x(1-x) + 5y(1-y).
As xy≥0xy \ge 0, we have 8xy≤10xy8xy \le 10xy which implies the result.
For equality we need 8xy=10xy8xy = 10xy and 10xy=5x(1−x)+5y(1−y)10xy = 5x(1-x) + 5y(1-y). Hence xy=0xy = 0, and xy=x(1−x)xy = x(1-x) as well as xy=y(1−y)xy = y(1-y). Therefore, we either have x=0,y=1x = 0, y = 1 or y=0,x=1y = 0, x = 1 or x=y=0x = y = 0.

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