Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 165 of 400 #765 of 1964

Problem 765

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.4 Prove it

Example 2 Let z1,w1,z,wC|z| \leqslant 1,|w| \leqslant 1, z, w \in \mathbf{C}, prove:
z+w1+zˉw. |z+w| \leqslant|1+\bar{z} w| .

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

Prove that because 1+zˉw2z+w2|1+\bar{z} w|^{2}-|z+w|^{2}
=(1+zˉw)(1+zwˉ)(z+w)(zˉ+wˉ)=1+zˉ2w2z2w2=(1zˉ2)(1w2). \begin{array}{l} =(1+\bar{z} w)(1+z \bar{w})-(z+w)(\bar{z}+\bar{w}) \\ =1+|\bar{z}|^{2}|w|^{2}-|z|^{2}-|w|^{2} \\ =\left(1-|\bar{z}|^{2}\right)\left(1-|w|^{2}\right) . \end{array}

Also, because
z1,w1, |z| \leqslant 1,|w| \leqslant 1,

we have
(1z2)(1w2)0 \left(1-|z|^{2}\right)\left(1-|w|^{2}\right) \geqslant 0 \text {. }

Therefore,
1+zˉwz+w |1+\bar{z} w| \geqslant|z+w| \text {. }

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