7

KLAMKIN QUICKIES SOLUTIONS

1. Determine the extreme values of r1 /h1 + r2 /h2 + r3 /h3 + r4 /h4 where h1 , h2 ,
h3 , h4 are the four altitudes of a given tetrahedron T and r1 , r2 , r3 , r4 are the
corresponding signed perpendicular distances from any point in the space of T to
the faces.
Solution. If the face areas and volume of the tetrahedron are F1 , F2 , F3 , F4 , and
V respectively, then

r1 F1 + r2 F2 + r3 F3 + r4 F4 = 3V,

and h1 F1 = h2 F2 = h3 F3 = h4 F4 = 3V . Now eliminating the Fi ’s, we get

r1 /h1 + r2 /h2 + r3 /h3 + r4 /h4 = 1 (a constant).

2. Determine the minimum value of the product

P = (1 + x1 + y1 )(1 + x2 + y2 ) . . . (1 + xn + yn )

where xi , yi ≥ 0, and x1 x2 . . . xn = y1 y2 . . . yn = an .
Solution. More generally, consider

P = (1 + x1 + y1 + · · · + w1 )(1 + x2 + y2 + · · · + w2 ) . . . (1 + xn + yn + · · · + wn )

where x1 x2 . . . xn = ξ n , y1 y2 . . . yn = η n , . . . , w1 w2 . . . wn = ω n , and
xi , yi , . . . , wi ≥ 0. Then by Hölder’s inequality,
n Y 1/n Y 1/n Y 1/n o
P 1/n ≥ 1 + xi + yi + . . . + wi

or
P ≥ (1 + ξ + η + . . . + ω)n .
In this case ξ = η = a, so
P ≥ (1 + 2a)n .

3. Prove that if F (x, y, z) is a concave function of x, y, z, then {F (x, y, z)}−2 is

a convex function of x, y, z.
Solution. More generally G(F ) is a convex function where G is a convex decreasing
function. By convexity of G,

λG{F (x1 , y1 , z1 )}+(1−λ)G{F (x2 , y2 , z2 )} ≥ G{λF (x1 , y1 , z1 )+(1−λ)F (x2 , y2 , z2 )}.

By concavity of F ,

λF (x1 , y1 , z1 )+(1−λ)F (x2 , y2 , z2 ) ≤ F ([λx1 +(1−λ)x2 ], [λy1 +(1−λ)y2 ], [λz1 +(1−λ)z2 ]).

Finally, since G is decreasing,

λG{F (x1 , y1 , z1 )} + (1 − λ)G{F (x2 , y2 , z2 )} ≥

G{F ([λx1 + (1 − λ)x2 ], [λy1 + (1 − λ)y2 ], [λz1 + (1 − λ)z2 ])}.