Practice Problem Set - 3

1. Three positive real numbers x, y, z satisfy the equations

x2 + xy + y 2 /3 = 25, y 2 /3 + z 2 = 9, z 2 + zx + x2 = 16.

Find the value of xy + 2yz + 3zx.

2. Let f be a polynomial with real coefficients such that f (x) f 0 (x) for all x 2 R.
Show that f (x) 0 for all x 2 R.

3. Let r0 , r1 , r2 , · · · , rv be positive integers such that that r0 + r1 + · · · + rv = n, where

v = s2 and n = ts(s + 1) (here s, t 2 N). Find ri ’s which minimize the sum

v ✓
X ◆
1 1
+ .
i=1
r0 ri

4. Let ABCD be a convex quadrilateral inscribed in a circle, and let diagonals AC

and BD meet at X. The perpendiculars from X meet the sides AB, BC, CD, DA
at A0 , B 0 , C 0 , D0 , respectively. Prove that A0 B 0 + C 0 D0 = A0 D0 + B 0 C 0 .
Z e
5. For any natural number a, determine the value of lim n xa (log x)n dx.
n!1 1
P100
6. Let a1 , a2 , ...a100 be real numbers, each less than 1, satisfying i=1 ai > 1.
P n0
(i) Let n0 be the smallest integer n such that i=1 ai > 1. Show that all the sums
an0 , an0 + an0 1 , . . . , an0 + · · · + a1 are positive.

(ii) Show that there exist two integers p and q and p < q, such that the numbers
aq , aq + aq 1 , . . . , aq + · · · + ap and ap , ap + ap+1 , . . . , aq + · · · + ap are all positive.