1961 IMO Problems/Problem 2
Problem
Let , , and be the lengths of a triangle whose area is S. Prove that
In what case does equality hold?
Solution
By Heron's formula, we have This can be simplified to Next, we can factor out all of the s and use a clever difference of squares: We can now use difference of squares again: We know that This is because the area of the triangle stays the same if we switch around the values of , , and .
Thus, We must prove that the RHS of this equation is less than or equal to .
Let , , . Then, our inequality is reduced to We will now simplify the RHS.
For any real numbers , , and , and thus Applying this to the equation, we obtain We now have to prove We can simplify: Finally, we can apply AM-GM: Adding these all up, we have the desired inequality and so the proof is complete.
To have , we must satisfy This is only true when , and thus . Therefore, equality happens when the triangle is equilateral.
~mathboy100
Solution 2 (duality principle)
We firstly use the duality principle. The LHS becomes and the RHS becomes If we use Heron's formula. By AM-GM Making this substitution becomes and once we take the square root of the area then our RHS becomes Multiplying the RHS and the LHS by 3 we get the LHS to be Our RHS becomes Subtracting we have the LHS equal to and the RHS being If LHS RHS then LHS-RHS LHS-RHS= by the trivial inequality so therefore, and we're done.
~PEKKA
1961 IMO (Problems) • Resources | ||
Preceded by Problem 1 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 | Followed by Problem 3 |
All IMO Problems and Solutions |
Video Solution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYOB-KSEF3k&list=PLa8j0YHOYQQJGzkvK2Sm00zrh0aIQnof8&index=4 - AMBRIGGS