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Geometric Inequalities: Notation and Basic Facts
Geometric Inequalities: Notation and Basic Facts
Geometric Inequalities
1 1 1 abc
[ABC] = ab sin C = bc sin A = ac sin B =
2 2 2 4R
= s(s a )(s b)(s c) (Heron's Formula)
ar br cr
= + + = sr
2 2 2
Proof:
Using the Heron's Formula and the AM-GM inequality
3 3
(s a ) + (s b) + (s c) s s2
[ABC] = s(s a )(s b)(s c) s = s =
3 3 3 3
with equality holds if and only if s a = s b = s c, i.e a = b = c.
1st solution:
Denote the perimeter of the triangle by p, i.e p = a + b + c, by the isoperimetric theorem for triangle, we have
2
p 3
T with equality holds if and only if a = b = c ------ (1)
3 4
The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality gives
p2 = (a + b + c)2 3(a2 + b2 + c2) with equality holds if and only if a = b = c. ----- (2)
a +b +c
2 2 2
3
It follows from (1) and (2) that T
3 4
which is equivalent to a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 T with equality holds if and only if a = b = c.
2nd solution:
c 3
An equilateral triangle with side c has altitude . Any triangle with side c will have an altitude perpendicular
2
c 3 c c
to c of length + y. It splits c into parts x and + x . Here x and y are the deviations from an
2 2 2
equilateral triangle. Then we have
2 2 2
c c c c
a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 T = x + + x + 2 y + 3 + c 2 2 3c y + 3 = 2x2 + 2y2 0.
2 2 2 2
We have equality if and only if x = y = 0, i.e. when the triangle is equilateral.
IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/2
Solution:
Let x = b + c a, y = c + a b, and z = a + b c, then x, y, z > 0.
By the AM-GM inequality,
x+y y+z z+x
xy , yz , and zx
2 2 2
x+y y+z z+x
Hence xyz
2 2 2
which , on substitution, yields abc (b + c a)(c + a b)(a + b c).
The result follows by recognizing that
(b + c a)(c + a b)(a + b c) = a2(b + c a) + b2(c + a b) + c2(a + b c) 2abc.
Solution:
Let x = b + c a, y = c + a b, and z = a + b c, then x, y, z > 0 .
The given inequality is equivalent to
xy3 + yz3 + zx3 xyz(x + y + z) ----- (1)
To prove (1), we use the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality again,
(xy3 + yz3 + zx3)(z + x + y) ( y xyz + z xyz + x xyz ) 2 = xyz( x + y + z) 2
Equality holds if and only if (xy3, yz3, zx3) = k(z, x, y). i.e x = y = z.
F Pb
Pc
P
Pa
B D C
Solution:
DE = Pa + Pb + 2Pa Pb cos C = (Pa sin B + Pb sin A ) 2 + (Pa cos B Pb cos A) 2 Pa sin B + Pb sin A
2 2
DE P sin B + Pb sin A
PC = a ,
sin C sin C
P sin B + Pb sin C P sin A + Pa sin C
Similarly, PA c , PB c
sin A sin B
Pa sin B + Pb sin A Pc sin B + Pb sin C Pc sin A + Pa sin C
PA + PB + PC + +
sin C sin A sin B
Solution:
For any four points z1, z2, z3, z4 in the plane, we have the identity
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) + (z3 z2)(z4 z1) = (z3 z1)(z4 z2).
The triangle inequality implies
| z2 z1 | | z4 z3 | + | z3 z2 || z4 z1| | z3 z1 | | z4 z2 |
with equality holds if and only if
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) and (z3 z2)(z4 z1) have the same direction
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) and (z2 z3)(z4 z1) in opposite direction
(z z 1 )( z 4 z 3 )
arg 2 =
(z 2 z 3 )(z 4 z 1 )
(z 2 z 1 ) (z z 3 )
arg + arg 4 =
(z 4 z 1 ) (z 2 z 3 )
z1, z2, z3, z4 are either collinear or concyclic.
Solution:
A
Case (i) Each angle in ABC is less than 120o.
We rotate APB about B 60o counterclockwise.
A' A
P
P' B C
B C
D
Case (ii) One of the angles of ABC, say B, is greater than or equal to 120o.
In this case, we rotate APB about B to APB counterclockwise such that A, B and C are collinear.
A
P'
P
A' B C
Example 8
For each point P inside a triangle ABC, let D, E and F be the points of intersection of the lines AP, BP, and CP
with the sides opposite to A, B, and C respectively. Determine P in such a way that the area of triangle DEF is as
large as possible.
Solution: A
b-y
z E
F
y
c-z P
B x D a-x C
Solution:
A
E
c
b
F z y
P
x
B D a C
a b c a b c
Using the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, (a + b + c)2 (ax + by + cz) + + = 2[ABC] + + .
x y z x y z
a b c (a + b + c) 2
hence + + .
x y z 2[ABC]
The equality holds if and only if (a/x, b/y, c/z) = k(ax, by, cz), i.e. x = y = z.
Thus the minimum value occurs when P is the incentre of the triangle.
C'
B'
I
B A' C
Solution:
Each inequality holds more generally. Suppose that cevians AA, BB, CC are concurrent at P which is interior
to ABC. Then
AP BP CP 8
AA BB CC 27
Moreover, if P is interior to the medial triangle of ABC (formed by joining the midpoints of the sides) then
AP BP CP 1
>
AA BB CC 4
Proof of the first inequality:
Let [XYZ] denote the area of triangle XYZ. Note that for an arbitrary point P interior to ABC,
PA [PBC] PB [APC] PC [ABP]
= , = , =
AA [ABC] BB [ABC] CC [ABC]
AP AA PA [PBC] [ABC] [PBC] [ABP] + [APC]
Thus = = 1 = = , etc.
AA AA [ABC] [ABC] [ABC]
from which we obtain
AP BP CP
+ + =2 ----- (*)
AA BB CC
3
AP BP CP 2 8
The AM-GM inequality = .
AA BB CC 3 27 A
Proof of the second inequality:
Clearly, P is interior to the medial triangle of ABC if and only if
AP 1 BP 1 CP 1 B'
> , > ,. > . C'
AA 2 BB 2 CC 2
Suppose that P is interior to the medial triangle and write P
AP 1 + x BP 1 + y CP 1 + z
= , = ,. = ,
AA 2 BB 2 CC 2
C
where x, y, z > 0. Note that (*) implies x + y + z = 1. B A'
Thus (1 + x)(1 + y)(1 + z) = 1 + (x + y + z) + (xy + xy + yz) + xyz > 2
AP BP CP 1 1
and so = {(1 + x )(1 + y)(1 + y)} >
AA BB CC 8 4
AP 1 BP 1 CP 1
To complete the solution of the original problem, we need to show that > , > ,. > holds
AA 2 BB 2 CC 2
for P = I, i.e. the incentre is indeed interior to the medial triangle.
IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/6
1
ar
IA [IBC] a AI IA b+c b+c 1
Now = = 2 = = 1 = > = (since a < b + c)
AA [ABC] sr a+b+c AA AA a + b + c 2(b + c) 2
BI 1 CI 1
In the same way, > ,. > . The proof is then completed.
BB 2 CC 2
1st Solution:
A
x b
c
P
z
y
B a C
Using the result of IMO 1961 question 2 (see Example 2), we have
a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 [ABC] ----- (*)
With the notation in the above figure, assume on the contrary that , , are all greater than 30o, it follows that
each is less than 150o. Thus for each angle the cosine is less than 3 / 2 and the sine is greater than 1/2.
Now, by cosine rule, y2 = c2 + x2 2cx cos
z2 = a2 + y2 2ay cos
x2 = b2 + z2 2bz cos
from which we obtain a2 + b2 + c2 = 2(cx cos + ay cos + bz cos ) < 3 (cx + ay + bz)
1 1
On the other hand, [ABC] = (cx sin + ay sin + bz sin ) > (cx + ay + bz)
2 4
Combining the two inequality, we get a2 + b2 + c2 < 4 3 [ABC]
which contradicts the inequality (*)
Second solution:
A
R
S
P
B Q C
Assume on the contrary that , , are all greater than 30o, it follows that each is less than 150o.
This leads to PA = PS/sin < 2PS,
PB = PQ/sin < 2PQ,
and PC = PR/sin < 2PR.
Then PA + PB + PC < 2(PS + PQ + PR)
which violates the Erds-Mordell inequality.
IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/7
Soln:
F X
F A
A
G B
G H
B E
H
E
D C
D C
Y
As in the figure, we draw equilateral triangles ABX and DEY such that ABCDEF is congruent to DBXAEY.
Since the corresponding sides and angles are equal, CF = XY.
Now AXB + AGB = 180o = DYE + DHE.
So ABXG and DHEY are cyclic quadrilaterals.
By Ptolemy's theorem, ABXG = AXGB + XBAG, which implies XG = AG + GB.
Similarly, HY = DH + HE.
Therefore, AG + GB + GH + DH + HE = XG + GH + HY XY = CF.