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Difference between revisions of "1997 JBMO Problems/Problem 4"

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== Solution ==
 
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NOTE(not by author): we can conclude b = c by noticing that b + c <=2sqrt(bc) but by AM-GM b = c must hold
 
Solving for <math>R</math> yields <math>R = \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c}</math>.  We can substitute <math>R</math> into the area formula <math>A = \tfrac{abc}{4R}</math> to get
 
Solving for <math>R</math> yields <math>R = \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c}</math>.  We can substitute <math>R</math> into the area formula <math>A = \tfrac{abc}{4R}</math> to get
 
<cmath>\begin{align*}
 
<cmath>\begin{align*}

Revision as of 01:24, 21 December 2020

Problem

Determine the triangle with sides $a,b,c$ and circumradius $R$ for which $R(b+c) = a\sqrt{bc}$.

Solution

NOTE(not by author): we can conclude b = c by noticing that b + c <=2sqrt(bc) but by AM-GM b = c must hold Solving for $R$ yields $R = \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c}$. We can substitute $R$ into the area formula $A = \tfrac{abc}{4R}$ to get \begin{align*} A &= \frac{abc}{4 \cdot \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c} } \\ &= \frac{abc}{4a\sqrt{bc}} \cdot (b+c) \\ &= \frac{(b+c)\sqrt{bc}}{4}. \end{align*} We also know that $A = \tfrac{1}{2}bc \sin(\theta)$, where $\theta$ is the angle between sides $b$ and $c.$ Substituting this yields \begin{align*} \tfrac{1}{2}bc \sin(\theta) &= \frac{(b+c)\sqrt{bc}}{4} \\ 2\sqrt{bc} \cdot \sin(\theta) &= b+c \\ \sin(\theta) &= \frac{b+c}{2\sqrt{bc}} \end{align*} Since $\theta$ is inside a triangle, $0 < \sin{\theta} \le 1$. Substitution yields \[0 < \frac{b+c}{2\sqrt{bc}} \le 1.\] Note that $2\sqrt{bc}$, so multiplying both sides by that value would not change the inequality sign. This means \[0 < b+c \le 2\sqrt{bc}.\] Since all values in the inequality are positive, squaring both sides would not change the inequality sign, so \[0 < b^2 + 2bc + c^2 \le 4bc\] \[-4bc < b^2 - 2bc + c^2 \le 0\] \[-4bc < (b-c)^2 \le 0\] By the Trivial Inequality, $(b-c)^2 \ge 0$ for all $b$ and $c,$ so the only values of $b$ and $c$ that satisfies is when $(b-c)^2 = 0$. Thus, $b = c$. Since $-4bc < 0$ for positive $b$ and $c$, the value $b=c$ truly satisfies all conditions.


That means $\sin(\theta) = \frac{2b}{2\sqrt{b^2}} = 1,$ so $\theta = 90^\circ.$ That means the only truangle that satisfies all the conditions is a 45-45-90 triangle where $a$ is the longest side. In other words, $(a,b,c) \rightarrow \boxed{(n\sqrt{2},n,n)}$ for all positive $n.$

See Also

1997 JBMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
All JBMO Problems and Solutions
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