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USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 3/1/19

This document summarizes the solutions to a mathematical problem posed by Naoki Sato regarding finding positive integers a, b, c such that the sum of their arctangents equals π/4. It first establishes bounds on a, then transforms the equation into an algebraic one. For a=2 and a=3, it derives the possible values of b and c by factoring and considering the restrictions on their order. The only solutions are found to be (2,4,13), (2,5,8), and (3,3,7).

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30 views2 pages

USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 3/1/19

This document summarizes the solutions to a mathematical problem posed by Naoki Sato regarding finding positive integers a, b, c such that the sum of their arctangents equals π/4. It first establishes bounds on a, then transforms the equation into an algebraic one. For a=2 and a=3, it derives the possible values of b and c by factoring and considering the restrictions on their order. The only solutions are found to be (2,4,13), (2,5,8), and (3,3,7).

Uploaded by

Arsy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USA Mathematical Talent Search

Solutions to Problem 3/1/19


www.usamts.org

3/1/19. Find all positive integers a b c such that


arctan

1
1
1

+ arctan + arctan = .
a
b
c
4

Credit This problem was proposed by Naoki Sato.


Comments First, we can use the properties of the arctan function to establish bounds on
a. Then we can transform the given equation into an algebraic equation, from which we can
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Naoki Sato.
Solution 1 by: Damien Jiang (10/NC)
We first establish bounds on a. Since arctan x is increasing on (0, 1],
arctan

1
1
1
arctan arctan .
a
b
c

Hence,

1
1
1
1
= arctan + arctan + arctan 3 arctan ,
4
a
b
c
a
so
arctan

a
12

tan
=2 3
a
12

1
= 2 + 3 < 4.
2 3

Additionally,
1
1
1
1

= arctan + arctan + arctan > arctan ,


4
a
b
c
a
so

< tan = 1 a > 1.


a
4
Therefore, the only possible values of a are a = 2 and a = 3.
From the original equation, we subtract arctan 1c , and take the tangent of both sides to
get
1
a

+ 1b
1 1c
=
.
1
1 ab
1 + 1c
Note that this equation is equivalent with the original because tan x is injective on (0, 1].
Multiplying, clearing denominators, and rearranging, we get
abc + 1 = ab + ac + bc + a + b + c.

USA Mathematical Talent Search


Solutions to Problem 3/1/19
www.usamts.org

If a = 2, then
2bc + 1 = 2(b + c) + bc + 2 + b + c
bc 3(b + c) = 1
(b 3)(c 3) = 10.
Because c > b, we have b = 4, c = 13 or b = 5, c = 8.
If a = 3, then
3bc + 1 = 3(b + c) + bc + 3 + b + c
2bc 4(b + c) = 2
(b 2)(c 2) = 5.

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Because c > b, we have b = 3, c = 7.


Therefore, the only solutions are (a, b, c) = (2, 4, 13), (2, 5, 8), and (3, 3, 7).

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