Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

2007 USAMO Problems/Problem 2

Revision as of 01:49, 7 August 2014 by 5849206328x (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

(Gregory Galperin) A square grid on the Euclidean plane consists of all points $(m,n)$, where $m$ and $n$ are integers. Is it possible to cover all grid points by an infinite family of discs with non-overlapping interiors if each disc in the family has radius at least 5?

Solutions

Solution 1

Lemma. Among 3 tangent circles with radius greater than or equal to 5, one can always fit a circle with radius greater than $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ between those 3 circles.

Proof. Descartes' Circle Theorem states that if $a$ is the curvature of a circle ($a=\frac 1{r}$, positive for externally tangent, negative for internally tangent), then we have that \[(a+b+c+d)^2=2(a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)\] Solving for $a$, we get \[a=b+c+d+2 \sqrt{bc+cd+db}\] Take the positive root, as the negative root corresponds to internally tangent circle.

Now clearly, we have $b+c+d \le \frac 35$, and $bc+cd+db\le \frac 3{25}$. Summing/square root/multiplying appropriately shows that $a \le \frac{3 + 2 \sqrt{3}}5$. Incidently, $\frac{3 + 2\sqrt{3}}5 < \sqrt{2}$, so $a< \sqrt{2}$, $r > \frac 1{\sqrt{2}}$, as desired. $\blacksquare$

For sake of contradiction, assume that we have a satisfactory placement of circles. Consider 3 circles, $p,\ q,\ r$ where there are no circles in between. By Appolonius' problem, there exists a circle $t$ tangent to $p,\ q,\ r$ externally that is between those 3 circles. Clearly, if we move $p,\ q,\ r$ together, $t$ must decrease in radius. Hence it is sufficient to consider 3 tangent circles. By lemma 1, there is always a circle of radius greater than $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ that lies between $p,\ q,\ r$. However, any circle with $r>\frac 1{\sqrt{2}}$ must contain a lattice point. (Consider placing an unit square parallel to the gridlines in the circle.) That is a contradiction. Hence no such tiling exists.

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

See also

  • <url>viewtopic.php?t=145844 Discussion on AoPS/MathLinks</url>
2007 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 1 		Followed by
Problem 3
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2007_USAMO_Problems/Problem_2&oldid=62794"