Problems for Mathematical Reflections 5

Juniors

J25. Let k be a real number different from 1. Solve the system of equations
3 2

 (x + y + z)(kx + y + z) = k + 2k

(x + y + z)(x + ky + z) = 4k 2 + 8k

(x + y + z)(x + y + kz) = 4k + 8.


Proposed by Dr. Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas

J26. A line divides an equilateral triangle into two parts with the same
perimeter and having areas S1 and S2 , respectively. Prove that

7 S1 9
≤ ≤
9 S2 7
Proposed by Bogdan Enescu, ”B.P. Hasdeu” National College, Romania

J27. Consider points M, N inside the triangle ABC such that ∠BAM =
∠CAN, ∠M CA = ∠N CB, ∠M BC = ∠CBN . M and N are izogonal points.
Suppose BM N C is a cyclic quadrilateral. Denote T the circumcenter of
BM N C, prove that M N ⊥ AT .
Proposed by Ivan Borsenco, University of Texas at Dallas
2p
J28. Let p be a prime such that p ≡ 1(mod 3) and let q = b c. If
3
1 1 1 m
+ + ··· + =
1·2 3·4 (q − 1)q n
for some integers m and n, prove that p|m.

Proposed by Dr. Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas

J29. Find all rational solutions of the equation

x2 + {x} = 0.99


Proposed by Bogdan Enescu, ”B.P. Hasdeu” National College, Romania

J30. Let a, b, c be three nonnegative real numbers. Prove the inequality

a3 + abc b3 + abc c3 + abc

+ + ≥ a2 + b2 + c2 .
b+c a+c a+b
Proposed by Cezar Lupu, University of Bucharest, Romania

Mathematical Reflections 5 (2006) 1

 Seniors

S25. Prove that in any acute-angled triangle ABC,

1
cos3 A + cos3 B + cos3 C + cos A cos B cos C ≥
2
Proposed by Dr. Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas

S26. Consider a triangle ABC and let Ia be the center of the circle that
touches the side BC at A0 and the extensions of sides AB and AC at C 0 and
B 0 , respectively. Denote by X the second intersections of the line A0 B 0 with
the circle with center B and radius BA0 and by K the midpoint of CX. Prove
that K lies on the midline of the triangle ABC corresponding to AC.
Proposed by Liubomir Chiriac, Princeton University

S27. Let a, b, c be nonnegative real numbers, no two of which are zero.

Prove that
r r r √
2
3 a + bc
2
3 b + ca
2
3 c + ab 9 3 abc
+ + ≥
b2 + c2 c2 + a2 a2 + b2 a+b+c
Proposed by Pham Huu Duc, Australia

S28. Let M be a point in the plane of triangle ABC. Find the minimum
of
3
M A3 + M B 3 + M C 3 − R · M H 2 ,
2
where H is the orthocenter and R is the circumradius of the triangle ABC.
Proposed by Hung Quang Tran, Hanoi, Vietnam

S29. Prove that for any real numbers a, b, c the following inequality holds

3(a2 − ab + b2 )(b2 − bc + c2 )(c2 − ac + a2 ) ≥ a3 b3 + b3 c3 + c3 a3 .

Proposed by Dr. Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas

S30. Let p > 5 be a prime number and let

p−3
2
X m2i
S(m) = .
2i + 1
i=0

Prove that the numerator of S(1) is divisible by p if and only if the numerator
of S(3) is divisible by p.
Proposed by Iurie Boreico, Moldova

Mathematical Reflections 5 (2006) 2

 Undergraduate

∞
X 2k + 1
U25. Calculate the following sum .
(4k + 1)(4k + 3)(4k + 5)
k=0
Proposed by José Luis Dı́az-Barrero, Barcelona, Spain and Pantelimon
George Popescu, Bucharest, Romania

U26. Let f : [a, b] → R ( 0 < a < b) be a continuous function on [a, b] and

differentiable on (a, b). Prove that there is a c ∈ (a, b) such that
2 2
< f 0 (c) <
a−c b−c

Proposed by José Luis Dı́az-Barrero, Barcelona, Spain and Pantelimon

George Popescu, Bucharest, Romania

U27. Let k be a positive integer. Evaluate

Z1  2
k
dx
x
0

where {a} is the fractional part of a.

Proposed by Ovidiu Furdui, Western Michigan University

U28. Let f be the function defined by

X xn
f (x) = | sin n| · .
1 − xn
n≥1

f (x)
Find in a closed form a function g such that lim = 1.
x→1− g(x)
Proposed by Gabriel Dospinescu, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris

U29. Let A be a square matrix of order n, for which there is a positive

integer k such that kAk+1 = (k + 1)Ak . Prove that A − In is invertible and
find its inverse.
Proposed by Dr. Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas

U30. Let n be a positive integer. What is the largest cardinal of a subgroup

G of GLn (Z) such that for any matrix A ∈ G, all elements of A − In are even?
Proposed by Gabriel Dospinescu, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris

Mathematical Reflections 5 (2006) 3

 Olympiad

O25. For any triangle ABC, prove that

√  
A A B B C C 3 A B C
cos cot + cos cot + cos cot ≥ cot + cot + cot
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Proposed by Darij Grinberg, Germany

O26. Consider a triangle ABC and let O be its circumcenter. Denote by

D the foot of the altitude from A and by E the intersection of AO and BC.
Suppose tangents to the circumcircle of triangle ABC at B and C intersect at
T and that AT intersects this circumcircle at F . Prove that the circumcircles
of triangles DEF and ABC are tangent.
Proposed by Ivan Borsenco, University of Texas at Dallas

O27. Let a, b, c be positive numbers such that abc = 4 and a, b, c > 1.

Prove that
a+b+c √
− 1) ≤ ( 4 − 1)4
3
(a − 1)(b − 1)(c − 1)(
3

Proposed by Marian Tetiva, Birlad, Romania

O28. Let φ be Euler’s totient function. Find all natural numbers n such
that the equation φ(. . . (φ(x))) = n (φ iterated k times) has solutions for any
natural k.
Proposed by Iurie Boreico, Moldova

O29. Let P (x) be a polynomial with real coefficients of degree n with

n distinct real zeros x1 < x2 < ... < xn . Suppose Q(x) is a polynomial
with real coefficients of degree n − 1 such that it has only one zero on each
interval (xi , xi+1 ) for i = 1, 2, ..., n −1. Prove that the polynomial Q(x)P 0 (x)−
Q0 (x)P (x) has no real zero.
Proposed by Khoa Lu Nguyen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

O30. Prove that equation

1 1 1 n+1
2 + 2 + ... + 2 = 2
x1 x2 xn xn+1
has a solution in positive integers if and only of n ≥ 3.
Proposed by Oleg Mushkarov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia

Mathematical Reflections 5 (2006) 4