Volume 11, Number 1
Olympiad Corner
Below was Slovenias Selection
Examinations for the IMO 2005.
First Selection Examination
Problem 1. Let M be the intersection of
diagonals AC and BD of the convex
quadrilateral ABCD. The bisector of
angle ACD meets the ray BA at the point
K. Prove that if MAMC + MACD
=MBMD, then BKC= BDC.
Problem 2. Let R+ be the set of all
positive real numbers. Find all functions
f: R+R+ such that x2 ( f (x) + f (y) ) =
( x+y ) f ( f (x) y) holds for any positive
real numbers x and y.
Problem 3. Find all pairs of positive
integers (m, n) such that the numbers
m24n and n24m are perfect squares.
Second Selection Examination
Problem 1. How many sequences of
2005 terms are there such that the
following three conditions hold:
(a) no sequence has three consecutive
terms equal to each other,
(b) every term of every sequence is
equal to 1 or 1, and
(continued on page 4)
Editors: (CHEUNG Pak-Hong), Munsang College, HK
(KO Tsz-Mei)
(LEUNG Tat-Wing)
(LI Kin-Yin), Dept. of Math., HKUST
(NG Keng-Po Roger), ITC, HKPU
Artist: (YEUNG Sau-Ying Camille), MFA, CU
Acknowledgment: Thanks to Elina Chiu, Math. Dept.,
HKUST for general assistance.
On-line:
http://www.math.ust.hk/mathematical_excalibur/
The editors welcome contributions from all teachers and
students. With your submission, please include your name,
address, school, email, telephone and fax numbers (if
available). Electronic submissions, especially in MS Word,
are encouraged. The deadline for receiving material for the
next issue is April 16, 2006.
For individual subscription for the next five issues for the
05-06 academic year, send us five stamped self-addressed
envelopes. Send all correspondence to:
Dr. Kin-Yin LI
Department of Mathematics
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Fax: (852) 2358 1643
Email: makyli@ust.hk
February 2006 March 2006
Muirheads Inequality
Lau Chi Hin
Muirheads inequality is an important Example 1. For any a, b, c > 0, prove
generalization of the AM-GM that
inequality. It is a powerful tool for (a+b)(b+c)(c+a) 8abc.
solving inequality problem. First we
give a definition which is a Solution. Expanding both sides, the
generalization of arithmetic and desired inequality is
geometric means.
a2b+a2c+b2c+b2a+c2a+c2b 6abc.
Definition. Let x1, x2, , xn be positive This is equivalent to [(2,1,0)] [(1,1,1)],
real numbers and p = (p1, p2, , pn) which is true by Muirheads inequality
n. The p-mean of x1, x2, , xn is since (2,1,0)(1,1,1).
defined by
For the next example, we would like to
1
[ p] = xp1(1) xp2(2) L xp(nn) ,
n! S n
point out a useful trick. When the
product of x1, x2, , xn is 1, we have
where Sn is the set of all permutations
of {1,2,, n}. (The summation sign [(p1, p2, , pn)] = [(p1r, p2r,, pnr)]
means to sum n! terms, one term for for any real number r.
each permutation in Sn.)
Example 2. (IMO 1995) For any a, b, c
n
For example, [(1,0,K,0)] = 1 xi is > 0 with abc = 1, prove that
n i =1
1 1 1 3
the arithmetic mean of x1, x2, , xn and + + .
a 3 (b + c) b3 (c + a) c 3 (a + b) 2
[(1 / n ,1 / n , K ,1 / n )] = x11 / n x 12 / n L x 1n / n is
their geometric mean. Solution. Multiplying by the common
denominator and expanding both sides,
Next we introduce the concept of the desired inequality is
majorization in n. Let p = (p1, p2, ,
pn) and q = (q1, q2, , qn) n satisfy 2(a4b4 + b4c4 + c4a4 )
conditions + 2(a4b3c + a4c3b + b4c3a + b4a3c + c4a3b
1. p1 p2 pn and q1 q2 qn, + c4b3a) + 2(a3b3c2 + b3c3a2 + c3a3b2 )
2. p1 q1, p1+p2 q1+q2, , 3(a 5b 4 c 3 + a 5 c 4 b 3 + b 5 c 4 a 3 + b 5 a 4 c 3
p1+p2++pn1 q1+q2++qn1 and + c 5 a 4 b 3 + c 5b 4 a 3 ) + 6a 4 b 4 c 4 .
3. p1+p2++pn = q1+q2++qn.
This is equivalent to [(4,4,0)]+2[(4,3,1)]
Then we say (p1, p2, , pn) majorizes
+ [(3,3,2)] 3[(5,4,3)] + [(4,4,4)]. Note
(q1, q2, , qn) and write
4+4+0 = 4+3+1 = 3+3+2 = 8, but 5+4+3
(p1, p2, , pn) (q1, q2, , qn). = 4+4+4 = 12. So we can set r = 4/3 and
use the trick above to get [(5,4,3)] =
Theorem (Muirheads Inequality). Let [(11/3,8/3,5/3)] and also [(4,4,4)] =
x1, x2, , xn be positive real numbers [(8/3,8/3,8/3)].
and p, q n. If p q, then [p] [q].
Furthermore, for p q, equality holds if Observe that (4,4,0) (11/3,8/3,5/3),
and only if x1= x2 = = xn. (4,3,1) (11/3,8/3,5/3) and (3,3,2)
(8/3,8/3,8/3). So applying Muirheads
Since (1,0,,0) (1/n,1/n,,1/n), inequality to these three majorizations
AM-GM inequality is a consequence. and adding the inequalities, we get the
desired inequality.