Volume 16, Number 2

June - October 2011

Olympiad Corner
Below are the problems of the 28th Balkan Math Olympiad, which was held in May 6, 2011. Time allowed was 4 hours. Problem 1. Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral which is not a trapezoid and whose diagonals meet at E. The midpoints of AB and CD are F and G respectively, and is the line through G parallel to AB. The feet of the perpendiculars from E onto the lines and CD are H and K, respectively. Prove that the lines EF and HK are perpendicular. Problem 2. Given real numbers x, y, z such that x+y+z = 0, show that
x ( x + 2) y ( y + 2) z ( z + 2) + + 0. 2x2 + 1 2 y2 + 1 2z2 + 1

Eulers Planar Graph Formula

Kin Y. Li
A graph G is consisted of a nonempty set V(G) (its elements are called vertices) and a set E(G) (its elements are called edges), where an edge is to be thought of as a continuous curve joining a vertex u in V(G) to a vertex v in V(G). A graph G is finite if and only if V(G) is a finite set. It is simple if and only if each edge in E(G) joins some pair of distinct vertices in V(G) and no other edge joins the same pair. In this article, all graphs are understood to be finite and simple. A graph is connected if and only if for every pair of distinct vertices a, b, there is a sequence of edges e1, e2, , en such that for i from 1 to n, edge ei joins vi and vi+1 with v1 = a and vn+1 = b. A graph is planar if and only if it can be drawn on a plane with no pair of edges intersect at any point other than a vertex of the graph. A planar graph divides the plane into regions (bounded by edges) called faces. We will sketch the usual mathematical induction proof on E. If E = 0, then since V(G) is nonempty and G is connected, we have V = 1 and F = 1. So VE+F=2. Also, if E =1, then V = 2, F =1 and again the formula is true. Suppose the cases E < k are true. For the case E=k, either there is a cycle (that is a sequence of edges e1, e2, , en such that for i from 1 to n, edge ei joins vi and vi+1 with v1 = vn+1) or no cycle. In the former case, removing en will result in a connected graph with E decreases by 1, V stays the same and F decreases by 1 (since the two regions sharing en in their boundaries will become one). The formula still holds. In the latter case, we call these graphs trees. It can be proved that they satisfy E=V1 and F=1 (which implies Eulers formula). Basically, removing any edge will split such a graph into two connected graphs with each having no cycle. This observation would allow us to do the induction on E. Before presenting some examples, we remark that Eulers formula also applies to convex polyhedrons. These are the boundary surfaces of three dimensional convex solids obtained by intersecting finitely many (half-spaces on certain sides of) planes. For example, take the surface of a cube, V=8, E=12, F=6 so that V E + F = 2. For any convex polyhedron, we can obtain a connected planar graph by choosing a face as base, stretching the base sufficiently big and taking a top view projection onto the plane containing the base. The following is a cube and a planar graph for its boundary surface.

When does equality hold? Problem 3. Let S be a finite set of positive integers which has the following property: if x is a member of S, then so are all positive divisors of x. A non-empty subset T of S is good if whenever x, y T and x < y, the ration y/x is a power of a prime number.
(continued on page 4)
Editors: (CHEUNG Pak-Hong), Munsang College, HK (KO Tsz-Mei) (LEUNG Tat-Wing) (LI Kin-Yin), Dept. of Math., HKUST (NG Keng-Po Roger), ITC, HKPU Artist:

v2 e2 v3 e3 e4

e1 e5 e6

v1 e7 v5 e9 v6 e8 v7

v4

(YEUNG Sau-Ying Camille), MFA, CU

Acknowledgment: Thanks to Elina Chiu, Math. Dept., HKUST for general assistance. On-line: http://www.math.ust.hk/mathematical_excalibur/ The editors welcome contributions from all teachers and students. With your submission, please include your name, address, school, email, telephone and fax numbers (if available). Electronic submissions, especially in MS Word, are encouraged. The deadline for receiving material for the next issue is November 10, 2011. For individual subscription for the next five issues for the 09-10 academic year, send us five stamped self-addressed envelopes. Send all correspondence to: Dr. Kin-Yin LI, Math Dept., Hong Kong Univ. of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Fax: (852) 2358 1643 Email: makyli@ust.hk Department of Mathematics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

In the graph above, there are 7 vertices (labeled v1 to v7), 9 edges (labeled e1 to e9) and 4 faces (the 3 triangular regions and the outside region bounded by e1, e5, e7, e8, e9, e6, e3, e2, e1). The following theorem due to Euler relates the number of vertices, the number of edges and the number of regions for a connected planar graph and is the key tool in solving some interesting problems. Eulers Theorem on Planar Graphs Let V, E, F denote the number of vertices, the number of edges, the number of faces respectively for a connected planar (finite simple) graph. Then V E + F = 2, which we will called Eulers formula.

Mathematical Excalibur, Vol. 16, No. 2, Jun.-Oct. 11 Example 1. There are n > 3 points on a circle. Each pair of them is connected by a chord such that no three of these chords intersect at the same point inside the circle. Find the number of regions formed inside the circle. Solution. Removing the n arcs on the circle, we get a simple connected planar graph, where the vertices are the n points on the circle and the intersection points inside the circle. For every 4 of the n points, we can draw two chords intersecting at a point inside the circle. So the number of vertices is V = n + nC4. Since there are n1 edges incident with each of the n points on the circle, 4 edges incident with every intersection point inside the circle and each edge is counted twice, so the number of edges is E = (n(n1)+4 nC4)/2. By Eulers formula, the number of faces for this graph is F = 2 V + E. Excluding the outside face and adding the n regions having the n arcs as boundary, the number of regions inside the circle is F 1 + n = n + 1V + E = 1+ nC4+ n(n1)/2. For the next few examples, we define the degree of a vertex v in a graph to be the number of edges meeting at v. Below d(v) will denote the degree of v. The sum of degrees of all vertices equals twice the number of edges since each edge is counted twice at its two endponts. Example 2. A square region is partitioned into n convex polygonal regions. Find the maximal number of edges in the figure. Solution. Let V, E, F be the number of vertices, edges, faces respectively in the graph. Eulers formula yields n+1 = F = 2V+E or V= E + 1 n. Let A, B, C, D be the vertices of the square, then t = d(A) + d(B) + d(C) + d(D) 8 as each term is at least 2. Let W be the set of vertices inside the square. For any v in W, we have d(v) 3 since angles of convex polygons are less than 180. Let s be the sum of d(v) for all v in W. Since there are V4 vertices in W, we have s 3(V4). Now summing degree of all vertices, we get s + t = 2E. Then 2E8 2E t = s 3(V4) =3(E3n), which simplifies to E 3n+1. Finally, the case E = 3n+1 is possible by partitioning the square region into n rectangles using n 1 line segments parallel to a side of the square. So the maximum possible value of E is 3n+1. Example 3. (2000 Belarussian Math Olympiad) In a convex polyhedron with m triangular faces (and possibly faces of other shapes), exactly four edges meet at each vertex. Find the minimum possible value of m. Solution. Let V, E, F be the number of vertices, edges, faces respectively on such a polyhedron. Since each vertex is met by 4 distinct edges, summing all degrees, we have 2E = 4V. Next, summing the number of edges in the F faces and observing that each edge is counted twice on the 2 faces sharing it, we get 2E 3m+4(Fm). By Eulers formula, we have 2 = V E + F = (E/2) E +F =F E/2, which implies 4F 8 = 2E 3m + 4(Fm). This simplifies to m 8. A regular octahedron is an example of the case m = 8. So the minimum possible m is 8. Example 4. (1985 IMO proposal by Federal Republic of Germany) Let M be the set of edge-lengths of an octahedron whose faces are congruent quadrilaterals. Prove that M has at most three elements. Solution. The octahedron has (48)/2=16 edges. By Eulers formula, it has V = 2 + E F = 2 + 16 8 = 10 vertices. Next, let ni be the number of vertices v with d(v) = i. Then, counting vertices and edges respectively in terms of nis, we have and V = n3 + n4 + n5 + = 10 2E = 3n3 + 4n4 + 5n5 + = 216. n4 + 2n5 + 3n6 + = 2. Hence, n4 2, n5 1 and ni = 0 for i 6. Then n3 = 10 n4 n5 > 0. Let A be a vertex with degree 3. Assume M has 4 distinct elements a, b, c, d. Then the 3 faces about A are like the figure below, where we may take AB = a, BC = b, CD = c and DA = d.
G a B A b

Page 2

F d

E D c C

Since ABCD and ABGF are congruent, so AF = b or d. Also, since ABCD and AFED are congruent, so AF = a or c. Hence, two of a, b, c, d must be equal, contradiction. Therefore, M has at most 3 elements. Example 5. Let n be a positive integer. A convex polyhedron has 10n faces. Prove that n of the faces have the same number of edges. Solution. Let V be the number of vertices of this polyhedron. For the 10n faces, let these faces be polygons with a1, a2, , a10n sides respectively, where the ais are arranged in ascending order . Then the number of edges of the polyhedron is E = (a1 + a2 + + a10n)/2. By Eulers formula, we have
V a1 + a2 + L + an + 10n = 2. (*) 2

Also, since the degree of every vertex is at least 3, we get a1+a2++a10n 3V. (**)

Using (*) and (**), we can eliminate V and solve for a1+a2++a10n to get a1+a2++a10n 60n 12. (***)

Assume no n faces have equal number of edges. Then we have a1, a2, , an1 3, an, an+1, , a2n2 4 and so on. This leads to a1 + a2 + + a10n (3 + 4 + + 12)(n1) + 1310 = 75n + 55. Comparing with (***), we get 75n + 55 60n 12, which is false for n. Example 6. (1975 Kiev Math Olympiad and 1987 East German Math Olympiad) An arrowhead is drawn on every edge of a convex polyhedron H such that at every vertex, there are at least one arrowhead pointing toward the vertex and another arrowhead pointing away from the vertex. Prove that there exist at least two faces of H, the arrowheads on each of its boundary form a (clockwise or counterclockwise) cycle.
(continued on page 4)

Eliminating n3, we get

Mathematical Excalibur, Vol. 16, No. 2, Jun.-Oct. 11

Page 3

Problem Corner
We welcome readers to submit their solutions to the problems posed below for publication consideration. The solutions should be preceded by the solvers name, home (or email) address and school affiliation. Please send submissions to Dr. Kin Y. Li, Department of Mathematics, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The deadline for sending solutions is November 10, 2011. Problem 376. A polynomial is monic if the coefficient of its greatest degree term is 1. Prove that there exists a monic polynomial f(x) with integer coefficients such that for every prime p, f(x) 0 (mod p) has solutions in integers, but f(x) = 0 has no solution in integers. Problem 377. Let n be a positive integers. For i=1,2,,n, let zi and wi be complex numbers such that for all 2n choices of 1, 2, , n equal to 1, we have

*****************

Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, we have

f ( x, y , z ) g ( x, y , z ) y 2 . cyc cyc cyc
2

Solutions

**************** Problem 371. Let a1, a2, a3, be a sequence of nonnegative rational numbers such that am+an= amn for all positive integers m, n. Prove that there exists two terms that are equal. Solution. U. BATZORIG (National University of Mongolia), CHUNG Kwan (Kings College) and F7B Pure Math Group (Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School). Let p and q be distinct primes. If ap and aq are zeros, then we are done. Otherwise, consider

So it is enough to prove

y2 cyc

3 g( x, y, z) . 4 cyc

(*)

Expanding and factorizing, we get

4 y 2 3 g ( x, y, z ) cyc cyc
= 4 y 4 + 2 x 2 y 2 3 xy( x 2 + y 2 )
cyc cyc cyc

= 3( x y) 2 ( x2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 y 2 ) 2 0.
cyc cyc

m= p

Na q

and n = q

Na p

where N is a positive integer that makes both Naq and Nap integers. Obviously, we have m n and
am = ( Na q )a p = ( Na p ) aq = an .

This implies (*), which implies the desired inequality. Other commended solvers: CHUNG Kwan (Kings College), NGUYEN Van Thien (Luong The Vinh High School, Dong Nai, Vietnam) and Paolo PERFETTI (Math Dept, Universit degli studi di Tor Vergata Roma, via della ricerca scientifica, Roma, Italy).
Problem 373. Let x and y be the sums of positive integers x1,x2,,x99 and y1,y2,,y99 respectively. Prove that there exists a 50 element subset S of {1,2,,99} such that the sum of all xn with n in S is at least x/2 and the sum of all yn with n in S is at least y/2. Solution. William Peng and Jeff Peng.

z
i =1

i i

w .
i =1 i i

Other commended solvers: Samuel Lil ABDALLA (ITA-UNESP, So Paulo, Brazil). Problem 372. (Proposed by Terence ZHU) For all a,b,c > 0 and abc=1, prove that
1 1 + a(a + 1) + ab(ab + 1) b(b + 1) + bc(bc + 1)

Prove that

| z | | w |
i =1 i i =1 i

Problem 378. Prove that for every positive integers m and n, there exists a positive integer k such that 2k m has at least n distinct positive prime divisors. Problem 379. Let be a line on the plane of ABC such that does not intersect the triangle and none of the lines AB, BC, CA is perpendicular to . Let A, B C be the feet of the perpendiculars from A, B, C to respectively. Let A, B, C be the feet of the perpendiculars from A, B, C to lines BC, CA, AB respectively. Prove that lines AA, BB, CC are concurrent. Problem 380. Let S = {1,2,,2000}. If A and B are subsets of S, then let |A| and |B| denote the number of elements in A and in B respectively. Suppose the product of |A| and |B| is at least 3999. Then prove that sets AA and BB contain at least one common element, where XX denotes {st : s, t X and s t}.

1 3 . c (c + 1) + ca (ca + 1) 4

Solution. V. ADIYASUREN (National University of Mongolia) and B. SANCHIR (Mathematics Institute of the National University of Mongolia), F7B Pure Math Group (Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School) and Kipp JOHNSON (Valley Catholic School, Teacher, Beaverton, Oregon, USA). Substituting a = z/y, b = x/z, c = y/x (say by choosing x=ab=1/c, y=1, z=a) into the inequality and simplifying, we get

Arrange the numbers x1,x2,,x99 in descending order, say xn(1) xn(2) xn(99) so that {n(1), n(2),, n(99)} = {1,2,,99}. Let A = {n(2), n(4),, n(98)} and B = {n(3), n(5), , n(99)}. We have

xn (1) + x j > xi x j .
j B i A j B

cyc

3 f ( x, y , z ) , 4
y2 z ( z + y ) + x( x + y )

If

y y , then let S =A{n(1)}.

i A i jB j

where

Now S has 50 elements. Also, and and

f ( x, y , z ) =

x > x x
iS i i A i j B
i i j

f (x, y, z) = f (x, y, z) + f ( y, z, x) + f (z, x, y).

cyc

Let g(x,y,z) = y2(z2 + zy + x2 + xy). By the

y > y y .
iS iA jB

Mathematical Excalibur, Vol. 16, No. 2, Jun.-Oct. 11

Page 4

So the sum of all xn with n in S is at least x/2 and the sum of all yn with n in S is at least y/2. If

Next, since T is the circumcenter of AOC, so

ATM =ATO = 2ACO = 2(90BXE) = 180 2ABC = BXE =AXM.

y < y , then let S =B{n(1)}.

iA i jB j

number. We agree that a singleton subset of S is both good and bad. Let k be the largest possible size of a good subset of S. Prove that k is also the smallest number of pairwise-disjoint bad subsets whose union is S.
Problem 4. Let ABCDEF be a convex hexagon of area 1, whose opposite sides are parallel. The lines AB, CD and EF meet in pairs to determine the vertices of a triangle. Similarly, the lines BC, DE and FA meet in pairs to determine the vertices of another triangle. Show that the area of one of these two triangles is at least 3/2.

Again S has 50 elements. Now

x = x
iS i

n(1)

+ x j > xi x j
jB iA jB

This implies A, M, T, X are concyclic. So AXT = 180 AMT = 90. Similarly, CYT = 90. Then BXT = BYT, which implies B, X, T, Y are concyclic. So
TBY =TXY = 90BXY. (*)

and

y > y > y .
iS i jB j iA i

Since D, X, Y, E are concyclic,

BED +TBE =BXY +TBY by (*), = 90

So the sum of all xn with n in S is at least x/2 and the sum of all yn with n in S is at least y/2. Other commended solvers: U. BATZORIG (National University of Mongolia) and F7B Pure Math Group (Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School),
Problem 374. O is the circumcenter of acute ABC and T is the circumcenter of AOC. Let M be the midpoint of side AC. On sides AB and BC, there are points D and E respectively such that BDM=BEM=ABC. Prove that BTDE. Solution. William Peng and Jeff Peng.

which implies BTDE. Other commended solvers: F7B Pure Math Group (Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School),
Problem 375. Find (with proof) all odd integers n > 1 such that if a, b are divisors of n and are relatively prime, then a+b1 is also a divisor of n. Solution. U. BATZORIG (National University of Mongolia), William Peng and Jeff Peng.

Eulers Planar Graph Formula

(continued from page 2)

Solution. Call {a,b} a hook if a, b are two consecutive edges on the boundary of some face of H. Call a hook {a,b} traversible if the arrowheads on a and b are both counterclockwise or both clockwise. Note every hook is part of the boundary of a unique face. Let E be the number of edges on H and h be the number of hooks on H. As each edge on H is a part of 4 hooks, we get h = 2E. Next at every vertex v, d(v) 3. By the given condition on the vertices, there must be at least 2 traversible hooks through every vertex. Let V be the number of vertices on H, then there are at least 2V traversible hooks on H. Let h+ and h be the number of traversible and non-traversible hooks respectively on H. Then h+ 2V. In every face where the boundary arrowheads do not form a cycle, there are at least two changes in directions on the boundary, which result in at least two non-traversible hooks. Let F be the number of faces on H. Let f+ be the number of faces the boundary arrowheads form cycles. Let f=Ff+. Then h 2f. By Eulers formula, V E + F = 2. Then

B A X D M O E C Y

For such odd n, let p be its least prime divisor. Then n = pma, where m is the exponent of p in the prime factorization of n. We will show a = 1. Assume a > 1. Then every prime divisors of a is at least p+2. Also c = a+p1 (> p) is a divisor of n. Since gcd(c,a) = gcd(ca,a) = gcd(p1,a) = 1, this implies c=pr with r 2. Then d = a+p21 (> p2) is also a divisor of n. Similarly, gcd(d,a) = gcd(da,a)= gcd(p21,a)= 1. So d=ps with s 3. Finally, prp = cp = a1= dp2, which is divisible by p2, while prp is not. Therefore, a = 1. It is easy to check all n=pm with p an odd prime and m a positive integer indeed satisfy the condition.

T
By the exterior angle theorem, ABC = BDM > BAM and alsoABC = BEM > BCM. So ABC is the largest angle in ABC. Then we have 60 < ABC < 90. This implies O is on the same side of line AC as B. Then T will be on the opposite side of line AC as O. Also, O, M, T are on the perpendicular bisector of line AC. Let X be the intersection of lines AB and ME. Let Y be the intersection of lines CB and MD. Now
DXE = 180 XBE BEX = 180 2ABC

Olympiad Corner
(continued from page 1)

and similarlyEYD =180 2ABC. So DXE =EYD, which implies D, X, Y, E are concyclic.

Problem 3. (Cont.) A non-empty subset T of S is bad if whenever x, y T and x < y, the ration y/x is not a power of a prime

2f+ = 2F 2f = (4 + 2E 2V) 2f 4 + h h+ 2f = 4 + h 2f 4, which implies f+ 2. This gives the desired conclusion.