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USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 3/1/16

The document provides three solutions to the problem of finding the maximum and minimum possible values of r + s + t + u given that 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100, where r ≥ s ≥ t ≥ u ≥ 0. All three solutions show that the minimum value is 20, achieved when r = 20 and s = t = u = 0, and the maximum value is 25, achieved when r = s = t = 25/3 and u = 0.

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187 views3 pages

USA Mathematical Talent Search Solutions To Problem 3/1/16

The document provides three solutions to the problem of finding the maximum and minimum possible values of r + s + t + u given that 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100, where r ≥ s ≥ t ≥ u ≥ 0. All three solutions show that the minimum value is 20, achieved when r = 20 and s = t = u = 0, and the maximum value is 25, achieved when r = s = t = 25/3 and u = 0.

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 3/1/16


www.usamts.org

3/1/16. Given that 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100, where r s t u 0 are real numbers,


find, with proof, the maximum and minimum possible values of r + s + t + u.
Credit This problem was inspired by a similar problem posed 35 years ago in the first round
of Hungarys Daniel Arany Mathematical Competition for students of advanced standing.
Comments Three elegant algebraic solutions are presented below. Some students also
solved this problem by considering the region of 4dimensional space described by the inequalities r s t u 0. The minimum and maximum of r+s+t+u must located at the
corners of this space. Thus, we must test (x, 0, 0, 0); (x, x, 0, 0); (x, x, x, 0); and (x, x, x, x)
by finding the value of x in each case which satisfies the given 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100 and
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evaluating r + s + t + u at the resulting points.
Solution 1 by: Yakov Berchenko-Kogan (10/NC)
Let:
u + a
= t
u + a + b
= s
u + a + b + c = r
Since r s t u 0, we know a, b, c R+
0 . Note that:
r + s + t + u = 4u + 3a + 2b + c
Substituting:
5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100
5(u + a + b + c) + 4(u + a + b) + 3(u + a) + 6u = 100
18u + 12a + 9b + 5c = 100
(2u + b + c) + 4(r + s + t + u) = 100
Clearly, in order to maximize r + s + t + u we must minimize 2u + b + c. Since all values are
positive, this can easily be done by setting u = b = c = 0. Now, we can find what exactly
the maximum value is:
4(r + s + t + u) = 100
r + s + t + u = 25
Thus 25 is the maximum value of r + s + t + u, achieved when r = s = t =
Now we must find the minimum value:
18u + 12a + 9b + 5c = 100
5(r + s + t + u) (2u + 3a + b) = 100

25
3

and u = 0.

USA Mathematical Talent Search


Solutions to Problem 3/1/16
www.usamts.org

Similarly to before, in order to minimize r + s + t + u we must minimize 2u + 3a + b, and


this is easily done by setting u = a = b = 0. Again, we can easily find what exactly the
minimum value is:
5(r + s + t + u) = 100
r + s + t + u = 20
Thus the minimum value of r + s + t + u is 20, achieved when r = 20 and s = t = u = 0.
So, in summary, 20 r + s + t + u 25.
Solution 2 by: Zachary Abel (11/TX)
Define S = r + s + t + u. Since r s t u 0, the numbers r s, s t, t u, and u
are non-negative. To find the lower bound, we calculate as follows:

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S =
=

=
=
=

r+s+t+u
(r s) + 2(s t) + 3(t u) + 4u
(t u) + 18
u
(r s) + 59 (s t) + 12
5
5

1
5r + 4s + 3t + 6u
5

1
100
5
20.

The minimum of 20 can be achieved when (r, s, t, u) = (20, 0, 0, 0). We similarly find the
upper bound:
S = r+s+t+u
= (r s) + 2(s t) + 3(t u) + 4u
54 (r s) + 94 (s t) + 3(t u) + 92 u

= 14 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u

= 41 100
= 25.
This maximum is attained when (r, s, t, u) = ( 25
, 25 , 25 , 0). Thus, the minimum and maxi3 3 3
mum values of S are 20 and 25 respectively.

USA Mathematical Talent Search


Solutions to Problem 3/1/16
www.usamts.org

Solution 3 by: Feiqi Jiang (9/MA)


Since r t, we have r t 0. Also, u 0 implies 2u 0. Adding this to r t 0 gives
r t + 2u 0
Note that
4(r + s + t + u) + (r t + 2u) = 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100.
Therefore,
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100 4(r + s + t + u) = (r t + 2u)


100 4(r + s + t + u)
100
25

0
0
4(r + s + t + u)
r+s+t+u

Hence the maximum value of r + s + t + u is 25.


We take a similar approach for the minimum: s u implies s u 0. Adding this to
2t 0 gives s u + 2t 0.
Note that
5(r + s + t + u) (s u + 2t) = 5r + 4s + 3t + 6u = 100.
Therefore
5(r + s + t + u) 100 = s u + 2t
5(r + s + t + u) 100
5(r + s + t + u)
r+s+t+u
Thus the minimum value of r + s + t + u is 20.

0
0
100
20

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