Crux v7n07 Aug
Crux v7n07 Aug
Crux v7n07 Aug
Mathematicorum
Published by the Canadian Mathematical Society.
http://crux.math.ca/
CRUX MATHEMATICORUI^
Vol.7, No. 7
August - September 1981
Sponsored by
Carlaton-Ottawa Mathematics Association Mathematique d'Ottawa-Carleton
Publie par le College Algonquin
The assistance of the publisher and the support of the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad
Committee, the Carleton University Mathematics Department,, the Ottawa Valley Education Liaison
Council, and the University of Ottawa Mathematics Department are gratefully acknowledged.
*****ft**ft*ft*****ft********4ft*ft*ft*********ft***ft*ft*
* * *
CONTENTS
- 195 -
- 196 -
GERMAINE DE STAEL
Ce qui suit est un extrait du Chapitre XVIII de la Premiere Partie de
De L'Allemagne, par Madame de Stael, nee Anne-Louise-Germaine Necker (1766-1817).
L'ouvrage parut d'abord a Londres (en francais) en 1813, sa publication en France
ayant ete interdite par Napoleon. Le texte a ete tire de 1*edition en deux volumes de
Garnier-Flammarion (1968).
L'etude des langues, qui fait la base de 1'instruction en Allemagne, est beaucoup
plus favorable aux progr&s des faculty dans 1'enfance, que celle des mathematiques
ou des sciences physiques. Pascal, ce grand ggom£tre, dont la pens£e profonde
planait sur la science dont il s'occupait spgcialement, comme sur toutes les autres,
a reconnu lui-meme les defauts inseparables des esprits formes d'abord par les
mathgmatiques: cette etude, dans le premier a*ge, n'exerce que le m£canisme de
1'intelligence; les enfants que 1'on occupe de si bonne heure 5 calculer perdent
toute cette s$ve de 1'imagination, alors si belle et si fgconde, et n'acquierent point
a" la place une justesse d'esprit transcendante: car l'arithm£tique et I'algSbre se
bornent a" nous apprendre de mi lie maniSres des propositions toujours identiques.
Les probl§mes de la vie sont plus compliques; aucun n'est positif, aucun n'est
absolu: il faut deviner, il faut choisir, 3 1'aide d'apergus et de suppositions
qui n'ont aucun rapport avec la marche infaillible du calcul.
Les verit£s demontr£es ne conduisent point aux ve>ite*s probables, les seules
qui servent de guide dans les affaires, comme dans les arts, comme dans la socie"te\
II y a sans doute un point oQ les math&natiques e11es-m§mes exigent cette puissance
lumineuse de 1'invention sans laquelle on ne peut p£n£trer dans les secrets de la
nature: au sommet de la pens£e 1'imagination d'Homdre et celle de Newton semblent
se rSunlr, mais combien d'enfants sans g£nie pour les mathgmatiques ne consacrent-
ils pas tout leur temps a cette science! On n'exerce chez eux qu'une seule faculty,
tandis qu'il faut de*velopper tout l'§tre moral dans une £poque ou T o n peut si
facilement deYanger l'ame comme le corps, en ne fortifiant qu'une partie.
* fc fe
- 199 -
THREE MORE PROOFS OF ROUTH'S THEOREM
M.S. KLAMKIN and A. LIU
The sides BC,CA,AB of a triangle ABC are divided at D,E,F, respectively, in
the ratios
BD : DC = r : 1, CE : EA = s i 1, AF : FB = t : 1,
and the intersections of the cevians AD,BE9CF are the vertices of triangle GHK, as
shown in Figure 1. With square brackets denoting areas of triangles, it is a known
result of Routh that
[GHK] (rst - l ) 2
(1)
TABUI (st+s+l)(tr+t+1) (rs+r+1)
Vectorial Proof*
Let A denote the vector from an origin outside the plane of triangle ABC to
the point A, etc. It then follows that
200
(2)
= C-y{(C-B) - ™ < A - B ) } ,
-»- -*- ->•
where # and ?/ are unknown scalars. Since A,B,C are linearly independent, we can
equate corresponding coefficients of A,B,C, giving
x _ ty rx
r+1 " t+13 r+1 1-y
_ t(r+l)
tr+t+l *
(*r+*+l)H = A + *B + trC.
•¥ + -+
-*--»--). -> -v -»-
Then by symmetry (cyclical interchange of A,B,C; r,5,t; and G,H,K) we obtain
(rs+r+l)K = B + rC + rsA,
(st+s+-l)(j = C + st + stB.
On carrying out the calculations for (3), it will be found that W reduces to (1)
(or to its absolute value if r>s9t are arbitrary real).
TABC1
FfligiQ; n = 3(1+*/) + #(1+3) + y(l+x) +1
Now if, in solving (6) for A',B',C° by Cramer's Rule, we find that B' = fc(aA+eB+YC),
then
0 A -a:
-*- ->-
B* = fe -y B i+z/
1+2 C 0 1
t(rs+r+l) A tr+t+l
x
" 1-rst 9 * + 1 ~ 1-rst ;
then, again by symmetry,
•Kst+g+1) rs+r+1
y 1-rst y+1 1-rst
sitr+t+1) st+s+1
s -f J =
[A'B'C'3 (rst-1)2 .
[ABC] (st+s+l)(trit+l){rs+r+l)
- 202 -
Synthetic Proof.
We ignore for now the cevian BE of Figure 1, and
join B to H, the intersection of cevians AD and CF,
as shown in Figure 3. We have
= (CABD] - [HBD])/r
= (CAFH] + CBHF])/r
= CAFH](1+*)/tr.
Since also Figure 3
tCABC]
CCAF] = [CAH] + [AFH] = CAFH](*r+t+l)/tr,
1+t
it follows that
rAFH1 . , , rt 2 [ABC]
and so
CCAH] = t[ABC3
tr+t+l
Then, by symmetry from Figure l,
CABK] =
rCABC] and [BCG] = aCABC]
rs t-r+1 st+s+1
Finally,
[GHK]
OTcJ" rs+r+1 st+s+l tr+t+l
which reduces to (l) after combining terms and simplifying. 0
The last two proofs can easily be adapted to take care of arbitrary real values
of r,s9t.
Niven [5] had noted that the denominator in formula (l) vanishes if and only
if two or more of the cevians AD,BE,CF are parallel. One can view this case as one
for which the area of triangle GHK is unbounded. Also, if rst = l and one factor of
the denominator in (1) vanishes, then the other two factors of the denominator also
vanish. This case occurs when the three cevians are parallel (or are concurrent at
infinity).
REFERENCES
1. E.J. Routh, A Treatise on Analytical Statics3 with Numerous Examples, Vol. 1
(2nd Ed.), Cambridge University Press, London, 1896, p.82.
- 203 -
2. H.S.M. Coxeter, Introduction to Geometry, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons,
Hew York* 1969, pp. 211, 219-220.
3. David C. Kay, College Geometry, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1969,
pp. 205-207.
M-. Z.A. Melzak, Companion to Concrete Mathematics, John Wiley & Sons, New York,
1973, pp. 7-9.
5. Ivan Niven, "A New Proof of Routh's Theorem," Mathematics Magazine, 49 (1976)
25-27.
6. D. Pedoe, A Course of Geometry for Colleges and Universities, Cambridge
University Press, 1970, p. 55, Exercise 11.8.
Department of Mathematics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G1.
* * *
PROBLEMS--PROBLEMES
Problem proposals and solutions should be sent to the editor, whose address
appears on the front- page of this issue. Proposals should, whenever possible, be
accompanied bg a solution, references, and other insights which are likely to be of
help to the editor. An asterisk (*) after a number indicates a problem submitted
without a solution.
Original problems are particularly sought. But other interesting problems may
also be acceptable provided they are not too well known and references are given as
to their provenance. Ordinarily, if the originator of a problem can be located, it
should not be submitted by somebody else without his permission.
To facilitate their consideration, your solutions, typewritten or neatly hand-
written on signed, separate sheets, should preferably be mailed to the editor be-
fore January 1, 1982, although solutions received after that date will also be con-
sidered until the time when a solution is published.
657a Proposed by Ngo Tan, student, J.F. Kennedy U.S., Bronx, N.I.
A quadrilateral ABCD is circumscribed about a circle y and
y n AB,BC,CD,DA = E9FSG,H9 respectively.
Let AC n BD = I and
AH = AE = a, BE = BF = b, CF = CG = o, DG = DH = d.
Prove that
IA a a . IB b
TC = a and
TD = d
658 f Proposed by Charles W. Trigg, San Diego, California.
In the decimal system, do there exist consecutive squares that have the
same square digit sum?
- 201 -
659. Proposed by Leon Bankoff, Los Angeles, California,
If the line joining the incenter I and the circumcenter 0 of a triangle
ABC is parallel to side BC, it is known from an earlier problem in this journal
(CrUX 388 [1979 : 201]) that
o2 _ (2fl-r)2(i?+r) .
8
F?
In the same configuration, cosB + cos C = 1, and the internal bisector of angle A
is perpendicular to the line joining I to the orthocenter H (Mathematics Magazine,
Problem 758, 43 (November 1970) 285-286).
Prove the following additional properties, which were listed but not proved in
the last-mentioned reference:
(a) If the internal bisector of angle A meets the circumcircle in P, show
that AI/AP = cos A.
(b) The circumcircle of triangle AIH is equal to the incircle of triangle ABC.
(c) A M P = 2ffr = vfc-AI-BI-CI .
2 + s1r,2 = J; c o s 2 + cos2
(d) sin ! | f |= I *
(e)' tan^2 = f ^ -
R+r
s = (DL + EM + FN) t a n | ,
where L,M,N bisect the arcs BC,CA,AB, respectively, of the circumcircle and D,E,F
bisect the sides BC,CA,AB, respectively, of the triangle.
1 EfF_I
B
A
C+H-I
B+G-I
D+E-I
H
A+F-I
C+D-I
/ i r c o s ^ Ecotf
(where the four-term sum on each side is cyclic over A,B,C,D), with equality if and
only if ABCD is a rectangle.
6661 Proposed by J.T. Groenman, Arrihem, The Netherlands.
The symmedians issued from vertices A,B,C of triangle ABC meet the opposite
sides in D,E,F, respectively. Through D,E9F9 lines d9e9f are drawn perpendicular to
BC,CA,AB, respectively. Prove that d9e9f are concurrent if and only if triangle ABC
is isosceles,
6671 Proposed by Dan Sokolowsky, California State University at Los Angeles.
A plane is determined by a line D and a point F not on D. Let C denote
the conic consisting of all those points P in the plane for which PF/PQ = r, where
PQ is the distance from P to D and r > o is a given real number.
Given a line L in the plane, show how to determine by elementary means the
intersections (if any) of L and C.
6681 Propsed by Michael W, Ecker, Pennsylvania State University, Worthington
Scranton Campus.
For any natural number n9 let s{n) be the sum of the proper divisors of n (i.e.,
s{n) - a(n) -n, where a(n) has its usual number-theoretic meaning of sum of all posi-
tive divisors of n). A set E of natural numbers is said to be imperfectly amicable
- 206 -
if eia) = s(b) for all a9b e E, i.e., if s{E) = {k} for some nonnegative integer k.
An imperfectly amicable set is said to be maximal if none of its proper supersets
is imperfectly amicable. Find all infinite maximal imperfectly amicable sets of
natural numbers and prove there are no others.
ft & s'«
SOLUTIONS
No problem is ever permanently closed. The editor will always be pleased to
consider for publication new solutions or new insights on past problems.
5611 [1980: 211] Proposed by Alan Wayne3 Pasco-Hernando Community College, New
Port Rickeys Florida.
Det gjjrfr ikke noget at vaere fjrfdt i Andegaarden, naar man kun har ligget i et
Svaneaeg!
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
(It doesn't matter if you are born in a duckyard, if you come from a swan's
egg!)
But usually, in a duckyard,
Also solved by JAMES BOWE, Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina; ALLAN WM.
JOHNSON JR., Washington, D.C.; FRIEND H. KIERSTEAD, JR., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; FRED
A. MILLER, Elkins, West Virginia; HERMAN NYON, Paramaribo, Surinam? BOB PRIELIPP,
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; ROBERT TRANQUILLE, College de Maisonneuve, Montreal,
Quebec; CHARLES W. TRIGG, San Diego, California; and KENNETH M, WILKE, Topeka, Kansas.
Editor's comment. Two solvers gently chided the editor for publishing this pro-
blem. (To preserve their anonymity, their names have been omitted from the above list
of solvers.) One of them (who sent in only an answer) wrote: "...it was a bad alpha-
metic because its complete solution entailed a quite undue amount of mere numerical
trial." The other wrote: "P can obviously not be 0, 1, 5, 6 as these would give an
identical value for G. P is likewise not 2 since the square root of an 8-digit
number must be greater than 3000. From that point on there is little scope for
reasoning...Therefore, this is a problem which few afficiandoes Lsicl of the form
will regard as good."
The editor refers readers to his remarks following the solution of Crux 551
[1981 : 1811. Whenever their solution entails "a quite undue amount of mere numerical
trial", our two solvers, and other "afficiandoes" of the form, might consider the
possibility that their solution, and not the problem, is at fault. Certainly, in
this problem there was plenty of "scope for reasoning", as our solution I shows,
and the unavoidable residue of numerical trial was very modest indeed.
Our second solver's "programmable calculator" laid an egg. It could apparently
not be "programmed" to lay square eggs. Rap! Rap! Wanna buy a duck?
* * >'*
562 • C1980: 2111 Proposed by Dan Sokolowsky, [now at ] California State Uni-
versity at Los Angeles.
Given is a circle y with center 0 and diameter of length d, two distinct points
P and Q not col linear with 0, and a segment of length I, where o<l<d. Construct
(specify when possible) a circle through P and Q which meets y in points C and D
such that chord CD has length I.
Solution by Kesiraju Satyanarayanas Gagan Mahal Colony, Hyderabad3 India (re-
vised by the editor).
We do not assume that 0,P,Q are not collinear, since this condition has no
bearing on the existence of solutions, as will become apparent. We first dispose
- 208 -
of a trivial case. Suppose P and Q are both on y. If IPQI = I* any circle through
P and Q is a solution; and if jPQ| # l9 then y itself is, in a sense, the only solu-
tion. We now assume that P and Q are not both on y.
The circle 8 with centre 0 and radius \M*-lz is easily constructed. Its radius
is OM, where M is the midpoint of any chord of y of length I. A chord of y has length
I if and only if it is tangent to 3. Let a be any circle through P and Q, and let p
be the radical axis of y and a. (For ease of construction, it is best to take for a
a circle which intersects y, for then p is simply the line of support of their common
chord.) We must now consider two cases.
i) If p is parallel to PQ (in which case this relation holds for any choice of
a), there are two tangents to B parallel to p. If either one of them intersects Y
in C and D, then PQCD is an isosceles trapezoid, hence cyclic, and its circumcircle
is an answer to our problem. Thus there are two solutions in this case, unless l=d
when the two solutions coalesce into one.
ii) If p n PQ = R (in which case R is independent of the choice of a since it
is the radical centre of y and any two circles through P and Q ) , suppose a tangent
to B through R meets y in C and D. The powers of R with respect to circles y and a
are equal; hence RP-RQ = RC-RD, and the points P,Q,C,D lie on a circle which is a
solution to our problem. Thus there are two solutions if R is outside B, one if R
is on B, and none if R is inside B.
(All summations, here and later, are for k = l,2,...,n.) As noted in [1], if one
interprets thefc.'sas weights and the a.'s as distances from one end of a rod at
which the weights are to be suspended, then (1) states that the maximum first moment
with respect to that end of the rod occurs when the heaviest weights are suspended
furthest from that end, and the minimum moment when the lightest weights are so
suspended. Although this intuitive justification of (l) requires positive a.'s and
&. 8 s, (1) is actually valid for all real a.3b..
In the given case, with a,~b«- k3 (1) gives
E k(n-k+l) £ Efcir(fc)< E k2
or
tt(ft+l)(n+2) < E fa(k) < n(n+l)(2n+l) (2)
6 6
For completeness we give a proof of (2) which is essentially the proof given
of (1) in [1] for real a.3b.. To obtain the upper bound in (2), suppose TT is a
permutation of the set {1,2,,.,,??} for which i < 3 but -n(i) > TT(J) for some pair
( i 3 j ) . Let TT! be the permutation obtained from -n by interchanging -n(i) and -n(j)s
so that ir'ii) ~ ir(j)9 TT'(J) = ir(t), and u*(k) = ir(fc) for all k * i3j. Then
A' = Efcir'(fc)> E kv{k) = A
since
4' -4 = iftU) + J * U ) -i-n(i) -Jir(j) = (j-i){*(i) ' ir(j )) > 0.
This shows that the sums 4 = Efcir(fc)can be increased if a pair (i,j) of the above
kind exists, so the largest value of A occurs when no such pair (i,j) exists. Hence
the upper bound in (2) follows, and a similar proof works for the lower bound, as
well as for (1).
II. Solution by the St. Olaf College Problem Solving Group, Northfield, Minnesota.
Let a = {au...9a ) and b = ( b u . . . 3 b n ) . By the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality,
2
<z-2> < Hall ||2?|| = l + 22 + ... + nz = •g , (3)
with equality if and only if a =fc^andthe required maximum is the right member of
(3). Now let
a% = (n+l-aj, n+l-a2* •••.» w+l-a );
then
2>-a' = E bk(n+l-ak) = (w+1) E ^ - Z>-a =n(n|1} - Z>-a,
- 210 -
where the summations are for k = i,2,.,.,n. The b which minimizes this is the b
which maximizes b*a9 namely b = a. Hence the required minimum is
Editor's comment.
Fox and Klamkin also gave reference [11 and Meyers referred to a related pro-
blem in [2]. Murty formulated another related problem which will appear in the next
issue of this journal.
REFERENCES
1. G.H. Hardy, J.E. Littlewood, G. P61ya, I n e q u a l i t i e s , Cambridge University
Press, 1952, p. 261, Theorem 368.
2. David Singmaster, Solution to Problem 1059 (proposed by David E. Daykin),
Mathematics Magazine, 53 (March 1980) 115-116.
- 211 -
5641 C1980: 212] Proposed by A. Liu, University of Alberta.
Raymond M. Smullyan's delightful IJhat is the name of this book? is now
available in paperback form from Prentice-Hall. On page 141 is the following Pro-
blem 155:
There are four doors X, Yf Z, W leading out of the Middle Sanctum. At least
one of them leads to the Inner Sanctum. If you enter a wrong door, you will be de-
voured by a fierce dragon.
Well, there were eight priests A, B, Cf D, E, F, G, H, each of whom is either
a knight or a knave. (Knights always tell the truth and knaves always lie.) They
made the following statements to the philosopher:
A: X is a good door.
B: At least one of the doors Y, Z is good.
Ct A and B are both knights.
D: X and Y are both good doors.
Es X and Z are both good doors.
F: Either D or E is a knight.
Gz If C is a knight, so is F.
H; If G and I are both knights, so is A.
Smullyan's problem: Which door should the philosopher choose?
My problem: The philosopher lacked concentration. All he heard was the first
statement U ' s ) and the last statement (#as) plus two fragments:
C: A and ... are both knights.
G: If C is a knight, ... .
Prove that he had heard enough to make a decision.
Solution by Clayton W. Dodge3 University of Maine at Orono,
Given that these four comments only are heard simplifies the problem, since the
extraneous material is not present. If H is lying, then G and H are both knights
and A is not. This is a contradiction, so H is a knight. Hence, if G is also a
knight, then A must be a knight. If G is not a knight, then £'s statement is false,
which can only occur if C is a knight (and the conclusion to G's statement is false).
Hence C is a knight and A is a knight. Therefore, in either case, A is a knight, so
X is a good door.
Also solved by RICHARD A. GIBBS, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado; LEROY F.
MEYERS, The Ohio State University; BOB PRIELIPP, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh;
and the proposer.
* & *
565. [1980: 212] Proposed by Jack Garfunkel, Flushings N.Y.
In an acute-angled triangle ABC, the altitude issued from vertex A CB,C]
meets the internal bisector of angle B [C,A] at P CQ,R]. Prove that
AP • BQ-CR = AI - BI • CI,
Now
/AIP = 90° ± | and /API = 9 0 ° ? | ,
the choice of upper or lower signs depending on the relative magnitude of angle A
compared with angles B and C. In any case (l) becomes
AP_ = _M , .
K}
cos(C/2) cos (B/2)
By cyclic permutation of A,B,C and P,Q,R5 we obtain from (2)
BQ BI . CR CI
cos (A/2) cos (C/2) cos (B/2) cos (A/2) '
and AP * BQ • CR = AI • BI • CI follows immediately.
II. Solution by Jordi Dous Escola Tecnica Superior Arquitectura de Barcelona^
Spain.
Let P' CQ'jR'] be the intersection of the altitude from A [B»C] and the internal
bisector of angle C [A,B]. The bisectors of angles B and C are antiparallels with
respect to the angle formed by the altitude from A and the bisector of angle A. It
follows that AI 2 = AP • AP', and similarly we have BI 2 = BQ • BQ' and CI 2 = CR • CR'.
Hence
(AI-BI-CI) 2 = (AP-BQ-CR) • (AP1-BQ'-CR') .
Now triangles ACR and ABQ' are similar, so CR/BQ* = AC/AB, and similarly AP/CR' = BA/BC
and BQ/AP' = CB/CA. Thus
AP-BQ-CR ,
AP'-BQ'-CR' = 1 '
and it follows that
AI-BI-CI = AP-BQ-CR = AP'-BQ'-CR' . (3)
Also solved by W.J. BLUNDONf Memorial University of Newfoundland; KESIRAJU
SATYANARAYANA, Gagan Mahal Colony, Hyderabad, India; CLAYTON W. DODGE, University
of Maine at Orono; J.T. GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands; NGO TAN, student, J.F.
Kennedy H.S., Bronx, N.Y.; G.C. GIRI, Midnapore College, West Bengal, India; and
the proposer.
Editor's comment.
Not one solver questioned the necessity for the condition that the given tri-
- 213 -
angle be acute-angled, and not one used this condition explicitly in his proof. The
editor would like to see one good reason why the result (3) should not be true for
every triangle.
* & *
Editor's comment.
Additional references [23 and [33 for the italicized theorem were given by Prie-
lipp and Johnson. Johnson noted that the identities
/C'OA' = ir-B,
/A'OB* = ir-C,
and so angles B ' O C , COA', A'OB' are
constant for all triangles A ' B ' C . Thus
the point 0 is the center of similarity of the moving triangle A ' B ' C . The pedal
triangle A 0 B 0 C 0 of the point 0 with respect to triangle ABC is also equilateral. It
is now easily shown that the similarity s(0,fc,e), with center 0, ratio k = 0A'/0A0,
and angle e = /A 0 0A', transforms triangle A 0 B 0 C 0 into triangle A ' B ' C . If Io and V
are the centers of triangles A 0 B 0 C 0 and A ' B ' C , respectively, then S(0,k9Q) also
transforms I 0 into I', from which it follows that
y2 = &Hx2+d2). (1)
This means that the point M moves on one branch of the hyperbola (1) which lies in
a plane perpendicular to that of triangle ABC. The trace of this hyperbola in the
plane of triangle ABC is the line I0I' perpendicular to 0I 0 .
We omit the proof of the converse.
5681 C1980: 213] Proposed by Allan Wm. Johnson Jr.s Washington, B.C.
The six distinct decimal digits composing a given integer can be shuffled
to form two three-digit factors whose product is the given integer. If one factor's
digits are an arithmetic progression and the other factor is divisible by 99, what
is the six-digit integer?
A+B+C+D+E+F; 0 et A+B+ C= 0 ,
done aussi D + E 4 F = 0. Si {D,E,F} = {a~dsa3a+d}9 il resulte 3a = 0, d'oQ 3a = 9 ou 18
et a = 3 ou 6. Ainsi {3,6} n (D,E,F) * 0, et T o n peut gliminer 99-4 = 396 et
99«7 = 693 des valeurs possibles de ABC. Le tableau qui suit donne, pour les valeurs
de ABC qui restent, les progressions arithm£tiques {a-dsa3a^d} pour lesquelles
3a = 9 ou 18 qui n'ont pas de chiffre commun avec ABC.
Les six permutations de chaque progression {D,E,F} permettent de former six nombres
DEF distincts. On multiplie chacun d8eux par les valeurs correspondantes de ABC et
- 216 -
on ne retient que les produits dont les chiffres forment une permutation de
{A,B,C,D,E,F}. Tous les produits sauf un sont e*limings, et la rgponse unique est
891-432 = 384912.
II. Comment by the proposer.
This problem was inspired by the following citation in Dickson [1]: "D. Biddle
applied congruences to find numbers like 15 and 93 whose product 1395 has the same
digits as the factors." Using a computer, I sought products having six distinct
digits that can be shuffled into three-digit factors. There exist products where
both factors have digits in arithmetic progression:
REFERENCE
1. Leonard Eugene Dickson, History of the Theory of Numbers, Volume 1, Chelsea,
New York, 1971, p. 463.
5*? & *
are
Also solved by JAMES BOWE, Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina; CLAYTON
W. DODGE, University of Maine at Orono? J„T» GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands;
SAHIB RAM MANDAN, Bombay, India? FRED A. MILLER, Elkins, West Virginia; MSc in
Mathematical Education Problem-Solving Class, Polytechnic of the South Bank, London,
England, reported by DAVID SINGMASTER (two solutions); KESIRAJTJ SATYANARAYANA, Gagan
Mahal Colony, Hyderabad, India; GEORGE TSINTSIFAS, Thessaloniki, Greece? and the
proposer (two solutions).
k * *
570, [1980: 213] Proposed by V.N. Murty, Pennsylvania State University, Capitol
Campus, Middletoion, Pennsylvania.
If x,y3z > o, show that
x + y
,. TxtyHx + z) * *>
cyclic
Z2a2(s-a)2 £ abcs3
where s is the semi perimeter, with equality i f and only i f the triangle is equilateral.
ELECT
REAGAN
0R_ .
CARTER
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are also entitled to find the unique
answer to this problem. Indeed, because of John Anderson, they may have to.
This is the only solution, because similar analyses for the other possible values
of E [the details are omitted] yield no other solutions.
Also solved by J.A.H. HUNTER, Toronto, Ontario; ALLAN WM. JOHNSON JR., Washington,
D„C? J„A. McCALLUMr Medicine Hatf Alberta? HERMAN NYON, Paramaribo, Surinam? SAMSOE
PROBLEM GROUP, Silkeborg, Denmark; CHARLES W. TRIGG, San Diego, California? and the
proposer.
Editor's comment.
The editor had no difficulty in deciding which solution to feature, because
Wilke's was the only satisfactory one received. One solver exhibited a fine sense
of bipartisanship by coming up with two distinct answers; but an election recount
showed that one was incorrect. Two solvers gave little more than the obvious re-
lations (1) and then, hey presto, out came the correct answer, like Minerva springing
full-blown from the brow of Jupiter. The remaining four solvers, perhaps reluctant
to expose the untidiness of their thought processes, gave just the correct answer.
Alphametics (or cryptarithms, as some people still prefer to call them) appear
in several journals. One journal prints bushels of them in eyery issue and then
gives only an answer for each. We take the view that the answer itself is of no
mathematical interest. The only thing that counts is the ingenuity displayed in
arriving at the answer. Nevertheless it is still all right for solvers to send in
only an answer (we like long lists of solvers), especially if they are not too proud
of the way they obtained it. They are assured of a place among the also-rans, and
of an occasional Bronx cheer from the editor.
* * *
ALAN WAYNE
The Canadian team was coached by G.J. Butler, University of Alberta and
E.J. Barbeau, University of Toronto.
- 221 -
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (PERFECT SCORE M2)
Australia 22 13 12 10 17 12 8 28 122
Austria 42 41 41 36 37 42 21 30 290 4
Belgium 37 24 25 38 6 3 3 3 139
Brazil 42 23 21 14 17 33 21 21 172
Bulgaria 32 42 40 34 28 37 33 41 287 5
Canada 42 25 23 16 35 "2 37 29 249 7
Colombia 14 13 13 11 1 13 14 14 93
Cuba ! 25 34 22 12 19 9 14 6 141
Czechoslovakia 38 38 40 42 32
Finland 27 41 17 10 31 9 38 33 206
France 29 15 42 26 8 29 42 18 i 209 10
Greece 24 11 13 13 15 2 12 14 104
I Hungary 41 42 41 40
Israel 42 32 25 31 16 29
Luxembourg 42
Mexico 3 4 2 2 1
Netherlands 25 25 37 36 27 16 17 36 219 9
Poland 35 18 41 36 24 28 35 42 259 6
Romania ! 36 35 33 32
Soviet Union 42 33 36 35 42 42
Sweden 22 20 17 32 32 28 38 18 207
Tunisia 14 18
United Kingdom 42 38 41 36 27 37 38 42 301 3
United States 42 42 42 39 42 35 39 33 314 1
Venezuela 6 3 9 4 14 4 23 1 64
West Germany 41 39 37 42 42 41 28 42 312 2
Yugoslavia 26 31 42 32 23 37 35 20 246 8
As can be seen from the listing of scores, some countries did not send a
full 8-member team. It is advisable for a country without a strong tradition in
national olympiads to send a small group the first time to gain the experience of
an international olympiad. In some cases travel costs may be a factor affecting
the size of a team. The Soviet Union, which has won the I.M.O. eight times since
1959, inexplicably sent only a 6-student team. This was all the more surprising
- 222 -
since, as noted in this column several times in the past, the Soviet Union has a
very strong tradition in national and regional olympiads.
The U.S.A. team consisted of:
N.D. Elkies, New York First Prize Award
• B.N. Fisher, New York
J.D. Primer, New Jersey " " "
B.R. Hunt, Maryland
G.N. Patruno, New York Second Prize Award
R.A. Stong, Virginia
J.R. Roche, Minnesota Third Prize Award
D.S. Yuen, Illinois
The U.S.A. team was coached by the author and Andy Liu, University of Alberta.
Many participants thought that this year's problems were too easy. There
were 26 perfect scores, many more than ever before. The problems are given below,
so the reader can judge for himself. Solutions to these problems (along with
those of the Tenth U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad given earlier in this column
[1981: m i ] ) will appear later this year in a booklet, Olympiads for 19819 to be
compiled by Samuel L. Greitzer and obtainable from
Dr. Walter E. Mientka,
Executive Director,
M2VA Committee on U.S. Contests,
917 Oldfather Hall,
University of Nebraska,
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588.
See the appended references for information about past national and international
mathematical olympiads.
1, P is a point inside a given triangle ABC. D,E,F are the feet of the
perpendiculars from P to the lines BC, CA, AB, respectively. Find all
P for which
BC + CA+ AB.
PD" W PF
is least.
- 223 -
2„ Let l <; r < n and consider all r-element subsets of the set {1,2,... ,n}.
Also consider the smallest number in each of these subsets and let F{n,r)
denote the arithmetic mean of these smallest numbers. Prove that
5, Three congruent circles have a common point 0 and lie inside a given tri-
angle. Each circle touches a pair of sides of the triangle. Prove that
the incenter and the circumcenter of the triangle and the point 0 are col linear.
Readers may be interested to know how the olympiad problems are arrived at.
Each participating country is requested to submit 5 problems with solutions to the
host country (which submits no problems) prior to the olympiad. The host country
filters down these loo to 150 problems to a reasonable number (19 this year), re-
jecting those that are too easy, well known, textbook problems etc. Soon after
their arrival in the host country, the leaders of each team congregate in a loca-
tion appreciably distant from the teams and deputy leaders to select the problems
for the examination. They then have no further contact with their teams until
after the examination has taken place. After a long discussion of the problems
and their solutions, the problems to be given at the olympiad are chosen demo-
cratically by an open vote. I and the delegates from the Soviet Union, Sweden,
and Yugoslavia, at least, had voted for some of the harder problems which were
- 224 -
not used. (I shall give the 13 unused "filtered" problems in this column next
month.) However, many of the countries participating for the first time did not
vote for the apparently harder problems and they won out. Perhaps this judgment
is unfair, because it is not easy to judge, for any given problem, how difficult
it will appear to the competing students. Even though I thought that this olympiad
was on the easy side, compared to previous ones, I did not expect, and I think the
other team leaders did not expect, to see so many perfect scores,
I hope that next year, when the I.M.O, is expected to be held in Hungary,
the team leaders will not lean too sharply in the other direction and make the
examination too difficult.
REFERENCES
1. Samuel L. Greitzer, International Mathematical Olympiads 1959-1977,
Mathematical Association of America, Washington, D.C., 1978.
2. N.B. Wassiljew, A.A. Jegorow, and R. Zelinka, Aufgaben von Mathematik-
olympiaden in der UdSSE und in der CSSR, Volk und Wissen Volkseigener Verlag,
Berlin, 1965.
3. W. Engel and U. Pirl, Aufgaben mit Ldsungen aus Olympiaden Junger
Mathematiker dev DDR, I, IX, Volk und Wissen Volkseigener Verlag, Berlin, 1975.
1. V. Skvortsov, "Mathematical Olympiads", Socialist Mathematics Education,
Ed. F.J. Swetz, Burgundy Press, Southhampton, Pennsylvania, 1978, pp. 351-370.
5. M.S. Klamkin, "A Bibliography of Mathematical Competitions" in The
Oli'mpiad Corner: 8, this journal, 5 (1979) 220-227.
Editor's note. All communications about this column should be sent to Pro-
fessor M.S. Klamkin, Department of Mathematics, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada T6G 2G1.
& * *'«
DAN J. EUSTICE
1931 - 1981