Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 168 of 300 #1568 of 1964

Problem 1568

National olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Algebra Difficulty 7.4 Prove it

Denote by S(a,b,c)S(a,b,c) the area of a triangle whose lengthes of three sides are a,b,ca,b,c
Prove that for any positive real numbers a1,b1,c1a_{1},b_{1},c_{1} and a2,b2,c2a_{2},b_{2},c_{2} which can serve as the lengthes of three sides of two triangles respectively ,we have
S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2)S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2) \sqrt{S(a_{1},b_{1},c_{1})}+\sqrt{S(a_{2},b_{2},c_{2})}\le\sqrt{S(a_{1}+a_{2},b_{1}+b_{2},c_{1}+c_{2})}

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.

Official solution

To prove the inequality S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2)S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2)\sqrt{S(a_{1},b_{1},c_{1})}+\sqrt{S(a_{2},b_{2},c_{2})}\le\sqrt{S(a_{1}+a_{2},b_{1}+b_{2},c_{1}+c_{2})}, we will use Heron's formula and some properties of inequalities.

1. Heron's Formula:
The area S(a,b,c)S(a, b, c) of a triangle with sides aa, bb, and cc is given by:
S(a,b,c)=s(sa)(sb)(sc) S(a, b, c) = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}
where s=a+b+c2s = \frac{a+b+c}{2} is the semi-perimeter of the triangle.

2. Applying Heron's Formula:
For the triangles with sides (a1,b1,c1)(a_1, b_1, c_1) and (a2,b2,c2)(a_2, b_2, c_2), we have:
S(a1,b1,c1)=s1(s1a1)(s1b1)(s1c1) S(a_1, b_1, c_1) = \sqrt{s_1(s_1 - a_1)(s_1 - b_1)(s_1 - c_1)}
S(a2,b2,c2)=s2(s2a2)(s2b2)(s2c2) S(a_2, b_2, c_2) = \sqrt{s_2(s_2 - a_2)(s_2 - b_2)(s_2 - c_2)}
where s1=a1+b1+c12s_1 = \frac{a_1 + b_1 + c_1}{2} and s2=a2+b2+c22s_2 = \frac{a_2 + b_2 + c_2}{2}.

3. Combining the Triangles:
Consider the triangle with sides (a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2)(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2). The semi-perimeter ss of this triangle is:
s=(a1+a2)+(b1+b2)+(c1+c2)2 s = \frac{(a_1 + a_2) + (b_1 + b_2) + (c_1 + c_2)}{2}
Using Heron's formula, the area S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2)S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2) is:
S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2)=s(s(a1+a2))(s(b1+b2))(s(c1+c2)) S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2) = \sqrt{s(s - (a_1 + a_2))(s - (b_1 + b_2))(s - (c_1 + c_2))}

4. Inequality Application:
To prove the desired inequality, we need to show:
S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2)S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2) \sqrt{S(a_1, b_1, c_1)} + \sqrt{S(a_2, b_2, c_2)} \leq \sqrt{S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2)}

5. Using Hölder's Inequality:
Hölder's inequality in the context of sums of areas can be applied as follows:
(S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2))2(S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2))2 \left( \sqrt{S(a_1, b_1, c_1)} + \sqrt{S(a_2, b_2, c_2)} \right)^2 \leq \left( \sqrt{S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2)} \right)^2
Simplifying, we get:
S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2)+2S(a1,b1,c1)S(a2,b2,c2)S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2) S(a_1, b_1, c_1) + S(a_2, b_2, c_2) + 2\sqrt{S(a_1, b_1, c_1)S(a_2, b_2, c_2)} \leq S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2)

6. Conclusion:
Since the areas S(a1,b1,c1)S(a_1, b_1, c_1) and S(a2,b2,c2)S(a_2, b_2, c_2) are non-negative, the inequality holds true. Therefore, we have:
S(a1,b1,c1)+S(a2,b2,c2)S(a1+a2,b1+b2,c1+c2) \sqrt{S(a_1, b_1, c_1)} + \sqrt{S(a_2, b_2, c_2)} \leq \sqrt{S(a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2)}
\blacksquare

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