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USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 4/4/19

This document contains solutions to a mathematical problem from the USA Mathematical Talent Search. Both solutions show that it is impossible to simultaneously satisfy the given inequalities. Solution 1 arrives at a contradiction by manipulating the inequalities to get wx > 3yz and yz > 3wx, which then implies wxyz > 9wxyz. Solution 2 argues by contradiction that if the inequalities held, it would define a polynomial p(s) that is always positive but equals 0 at s = w, presenting a contradiction.

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79 views2 pages

USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 4/4/19

This document contains solutions to a mathematical problem from the USA Mathematical Talent Search. Both solutions show that it is impossible to simultaneously satisfy the given inequalities. Solution 1 arrives at a contradiction by manipulating the inequalities to get wx > 3yz and yz > 3wx, which then implies wxyz > 9wxyz. Solution 2 argues by contradiction that if the inequalities held, it would define a polynomial p(s) that is always positive but equals 0 at s = w, presenting a contradiction.

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USA Mathematical Talent Search

Solutions to Problem 4/4/19


www.usamts.org

4/4/19. Suppose that w, x, y, z are positive real numbers such that w + x < y + z. Prove
that it is impossible to simultaneously satisfy both

(w + x)yz < wx(y + z) and (w + x)(y + z) < wx + yz.

Comments Since we want to show that not all three inequalities can hold simultaneously,
we can approach the problem by using contradiction. Solutions edited by Naoki Sato.

Solution 1 by: Andy Zhu (11/NJ)


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For the sake of contradiction, suppose that all the given inequalities hold. Multiplying
the inequalities wx(y + z) > (w + x)yz and wx + yz > (w + x)(y + z), we get

wx(y + z)(wx + yz) > yz(w + x)2 (y + z).

By the AM-GM inequality, (w + x)2 4wx, so

wx(y + z)(wx + yz) > yz(w + x)2 (y + z) 4wxyz(y + z).

Dividing by wx(y + z) (which is positive), we get

wx + yz > 4yz,

so wx > 3yz.
Also, since y + z > w + x and wx + yz > (w + x)(y + z),

wx + yz > (w + x)(y + z) > (w + x)2 4wx,

so yz > 3wx. Multiplying the inequalities wx > 3yz and yz > 3wx, we get wxyz > 9wxyz,
contradiction. Thus, not all the given inequalities can hold simultaneously.
USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 4/4/19
www.usamts.org

Solution 2 by: Kristin Cordwell (11/NM)


We argue by contradiction. Suppose that the positive real numbers w, x, y, z satisfy all
the given inequalities, so w + x < y + z,

(w + x)yz < wx(y + z) wxy + wxz wyz xyz > 0,

and
(w + x)(y + z) < wx + yz wx + yz wy xy wz xz > 0.
Now consider the polynomial p(s) = (s w)(s x)(s + y)(s + z). Expanding this, we
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have
p(s) = s4 + (y + z w x)s3 + (wx + yz wy xy wz xz)s2
+ (wxy + wxz wyz xyz)s + wxyz.

The coefficients of s3 , s2 , and s are all positive, and wxyz > 0 because w, x, y, z > 0.
Therefore, p(s) > 0 for all s > 0. However, p(w) = 0 and w > 0, contradiction. Therefore,
all three inequalities cannot simultaneously hold.

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