Mathematical Reflection Issue 4

Viet Hoang Thao Le

Takapuna Grammar School University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand, July 19, 2016

1 J381
Let x, y, z be positive real numbers such that x + y + z = 3. Prove that
xy yz zx
+ + 1
4y 4z 4x
Solution. We will take advantage of the condition x + y + z = 3 and write the
inequality as follows, X x
1
cyc
1 + x +z
X
where denotes the cyclic summation over x, y and z respectively.
cyc
After clearing all the denonimators, one obtains
5 + xy 2 + yz 2 + zx2 + xyz (x + y + z)2

However, since x + y + z = 3, it suffcies to show that

xy 2 + yz 2 + zx2 + xyz 4
To prove this, without loss of generality, assume that x is inclusively between y
and z. Thus,
z(x y)(x z) 0
2
z(x x(y + z) + yz) 0
x2 z + yz 2 xz(y + z)
2 2 2
xy + yz + zx + xyz xz(y + z) + xy(y + z) = x(y + z)2
However, using AM-GM inequality for 3 positive real numbers 2x, (y + z) and
(y + z), one has
3
23

2 1 1 2(x + y + z)
x(y + z) = (2x)(y + z)(y + z) = =4
2 2 3 2
Hence, we complete our proof here. 

1
 Figure 1: Cyclic quadrilater ABCD

2 S381
Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral and M and N be the midpoints of the
diagonals AC and BD. Prove that
1
MN |AC BD|
2

Solution. We notice one interesing property between ~a and ~b such that

~a ~b = |~a| |~b| cos(~a, ~b) |~a| |~b|

c

The equality occurs when cos(~a, ~b) = 1 or ~a and ~b are parallel vectors with the
c
same direction.
Let G and H be midpoints of AB and CD respectively. In the triangle ACD
with G and M being midpoints of CD and AC so GM ||AD and GM = 1/2
AD. Similarly, one should obtain N H||AD and N H = 1/2 AD. This shows
N H||GM and N H = GM . Hence, M HN G is a parallelogram.
Therefore,  
 1 
|M N | = |M G + M H| =  (AD BC)

2
Hence, it suffices to show that

|AD BC| |AC BD|

2
Squaring both sides gives

AD2 + BC 2 2AD BC AC 2 + BD2 2AC BD

Since ABCD is concyclic, using Ptolemy theorem, we have

AC BD = AD BC + CD AB AD BC + CD AB

Thus, it is enough to show that AD2 +BC 2 +2CDAB AC 2 +BD2 . However,

it can be seen that

AC 2 AD2 = (AC AD)(AC + AD)

= DC (AC + AD)

Similarly, one should obtain BD2 BC 2 = CD (BD + BC). Thus,

(AC 2 AD2 ) + (BD2 BC 2 ) CD (BD + BC AC AD)

= CD (BA + BA) = 2CD BA 2CD AB

Hence, we complete our solution here.