Crux v8n10 Dec
Crux v8n10 Dec
Crux v8n10 Dec
Mathematicorum
Published by the Canadian Mathematical Society.
http://crux.math.ca/
CRUX MATHFHATICORUH
Vol. 8 S No. 10
December 1982
Sponsored by
Carleton-Ottawa Mathematics Association Hathematique d'Ottawa-Carlecon
Publie par le College Alaonquin, Ottawa
Printed at Carieton University
The assistance of the publisher and the support of the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad
Committee,, the Carieton University Department of Mathematics p.nd Statistics, the University
of Ottawa Department of Mathematics, and the endorsement of the Ottawa Valley Education
Liaison Council are gratefully acknowledged.
ftftftftftftftftftft* ft ft ft ft *ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
ftftftftftftftftftft1t ft ft ft Mftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
CONTENTS
A New Inequality for the Anqles of a Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . 0. Bottema 296
Some Majorization Ineaualities M.S. Klamkin and George Tsintsifas 298
Mathematical Clerihews . . . . . . Alan Wayne 299
The Olympiad Corner: 40 . . . . • . M.S. Klamkin 300
Problems - Probl^mes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
The House Numbers of Europe . . . . . . . . . . Hayo Ah!burg 304
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . 305
One Two,, Button Your Shoe 327
The Puzzle Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hans Havermann 328
The Most Dedekindest Cut of All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leroy F. Meyers 328
- ?°5 -
- 296 -
A NEW INEQUALITY FOR THE ANGLES OF A TRIANGLE
0. BOTTEMA
Let ABC be a trianqle with sides a9b,e and angles a,3,y in the usual order,
and circumradius R. We will assume that ABC is not right-angled, so that its
orthic trianqle AiBxCi is nondegenerate, and the orthocenters H and Hi of ABC
and A1B1C1 are well-defined points. We will first find an expression for d = HHi
in terms of elements of triangle ABC. We will then use this expression (which is
interesting in its own riqht) to deduce a new inequality for the angles of any
triangle.
We will assume that triangle ABC has been labeled so that y is the larqest
anqle. (The figure shows a triangle with
Y < ir/2, but it can be verified that every- C
thing that follows remains valid if y > TT/2.)
We introduce a Cartesian frame OXY with the
origin 0 at Cx and X-axis along AB. We easily
find that
and similarly
$1 = (-aCOS a COS y, cCOSaSl'na).
From this it follows that the line through hi perpendicular to B ^ (an altitude
of A ^ j C x ) is
a: COSy - z / S i n y + / c 1 = 0 , (2)
where
ki = c cos 3 sin 3 sin y - b cos 3 cos2y
= -i?sin 23 cos 2y. (3)
In the same way, we find that the line through Bx perpendicular to AiCi has the
equation
- 2P7 -
x COS y + z/Sl'ny + k2 = 0, (4)
where
Solving (2) and (4) simultaneously, we find that the coordinates (a?i »2/i) of ti\
are given by
^ 2 cosy9 ^ 2sinY'
In view of (3) and (5) 9 we therefore have
In a recent note in this journal [1982: 162], the second author came up with
still another proof of the A.M.-G.M. inequality. He shov/ed that, if x. > o for
i = 1,2,...,n, then (sums and products throughout are for i - l,2,...,n)
n(a? + x.)
{l(x + x.)}
A = -~ and G = (na^) 1 ^,
We say that (l+A)n majorizes nd+a^) and write (1+A)n > n(l+a.) if, termwise,
where p = T / ( n ) . The last inequality in (5) goes without sayinq, and the first
two follow from the Maclaurin inequalities T2], according to which we have
REFERENCES
1. D.O. Shklarsky, N.N. Chentzov, and I.M. Yaqlom, The USSR Olympiad Problem
Book, Freeman, San Francisco, 1962, Problem 305, solution on pp. 410-411.
2. G.H. Hardy, J.E. Littlewood, and G. Polya, Inequalities, Cambridge Univer-
sity Press, 1952, p. 52.
Department of Mathematics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2G1.
Platonos 23, Thessaloniki, Greece.
* ft ft
MATHEMATICAL CLERIHEWS
David Hilbert, Karl Weierstrass2
W.S. Gilbert 1 — Enjoyed a qlass
Each "problemist" Of Rhine wine for drinkinq.
Compiled "a list". He hated fuzzy thinking.
ALAN WAYNE, Holiday, Florida
1
W.S. Gilbert, in The Mikado, Act I:
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've qot a little list—I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed — who never would be missed!
Solomon Bochner in The Role of Mathematics in the Rise of Science, Princeton
University Press, 1966, p. 369: "He [Weierstrass1 liked his Rhine wine rich? but
this somehow did not prevent him from becoming a leading enemy of fuzziness in
mathematical thinking in the 19th century."
- 300 -
TIT OLYMPIAD CORNER: 40
M.S. KLAMKIN
A few months aqo in this column [1982: 70], I qave the problems set in the
first round of the 1982 West German Olympiad. Now, through the courtesy of Bernhard
Leeb, I present the problems set in the second round, for which I solicit elegant
solutions.
1, Max divides the positive integer p by the positive integer q, where q < loo.
In the decimal expansion of the quotient p/q9 Max finds somewhere after
the decimal point the digit-block 1982. Prove that Max's division is wrong.
2, Decide whether e\/ery triangle ABC can be transformed by orthogonal projec-
tion on a certain plane into an equilateral triangle.
SI + £2 + ... + ^
l+a2+a^+..,+a l+ai+a 3 +...+a l+ai+a 2 +...+a
has a minimum and compute it.
£|, If 4 n + 2n + l is a prime number for the positive integer n, then n is a
power of 3.
I now present a set of problems proposed by students attending the 1982 U.S.A.
Mathematical Olympiad Practice Session held last summer at the U.S. Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland. I may later publish the best solutions received from readers.
(Starred problems were submitted without a solution.) For earlier sets of such
problems, see [1980: 210:1982: 991.
x3 + y3 + s 3 + 6xyz = 0.
where
nxnm = ( k r + i « 2 r + . . . + knn1/m.
8B Proposed by John Steinke.
Determine all six-digit integers n such that n is a perfect square and the
- 302 -
number formed by the last three diqits of n exceeds the number formed by the first
three digits of n by 1. (n might look like 123124.)
Editor's note. All communications about this column should be sent to Professor
M.S. Klamkin, Department of Mathematics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada T6G 2G1.
5f: it &
PR0BLEMS--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 by a solution, references, and other insights which are likely to be
of help to the editor. An asterisk (*) after a number indicates a problem submit-
ted 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 before
May 1, 1983, although solutions received after that date will also be considered
until the time when a solution is published.
SO
SCAT
SCAT
5032
The sum of this base ten cryptarithm will answer the question.
each of its first 50 multiples differs from the first perfect square not less than
it by a perfect square.
Show that, for any positive integer n, there is a numberm such thatn consecutive
positive multiples
have the property that each differs from the smallest perfect square not less than
it by a perfect square.
- 303 -
7^31 Proposed by V.N. Murty3 Pennsylvania State University, Capitol Campus.
Consider the followinq double inequality for the Riemann Zeta function:
for n - t92,3,...,
*"
(e-l)(n+l)(n+2)...(n+8-i) T+ C0/(a)<C(e)
V ^* ; < VC^O OT+ (s-l)n(n+l)...
, 0 _ „ W „ . A (n+s-2)
T^r-TT* (1)
where
oo 72
t,(s) = I — and c (e) = 7 — .
s n
k=l k k=l ks
Go as far as you can in determining for which of the inteqers s = 2,3,4,... the
inequalities (l) hold.
(N.D. Kazarinoff asks for a proof that (l> holds for s = 2 in his Analytic
Inequalities, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1964, paqe 79; and Norman Schaumberger
asks for a proof or disproof that (1) holds for s = 3 in The Two-Year College Mathe-
matics Journal* 12 (1981) 336.)
79^1, Proposed by J.T. Groenman3 Amhem3 The Netherlands.
Determine the positive inteqers n for which
Georq Freiherr von Vega was born on 23 March 1754 in Zagorica (Krain), in the
Austrian Empire, and murdered on 17 September 1802 near Vienna. In this computer
age, it may be permitted to recall that he published his Thesaurus Logarithmorum
Completus in Leipzig in 1791 (to ten decimal places). Its 94th edition (seven
decimal places, no misprints, no errois) was published in Berlin in 1935. It had
become ever more reliable and was still widely used after a century and a half.
Numerous checks and calculations to many decimal places (e.g.,
log cos 24°55'30" = -1 + 0.95754 03499 9866
shows that, rounded to seven decimal places, the last digit is 3, not 4) had made
of Vega's Tables a computer's "Bible".
The German philosopher Kuno Fischer (1824-1907) tells from his school days
(the late 1830s) that two of his classmates had a rather simple-minded uncle. He
sometimes looked over their homework, although he rarely grasped what it was all
about. Once he found them doing mathematics, and for the first time in his life
he saw Vega's Log Tables. The big book containing numbers, nothing but numbers,
fascinated him and aroused his curiosity. He asked what it was. One of the boys,
his face suitably despondent, in keepina with the enormous task, answered: "It is
the house numbers of Europe." The uncle said nothing, but did not doubt his word.
After all, why shouldn't numbers be house numbers? That evening, he told friends
that in his own youth school had been difficult enough, but that was nothing compared
to the present. "Why, my poor nephews are sitting at home, and what do they learn?
The house numbers of Europe!" Well, it might come in handy, he mused, if the Germans
ever conquer Paris again. Wouldn't it be helpful to know all the house numbers
right away?
HAYO AHLBURG
Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
- 305 -
SnU'TIONS
x
Q
o'
O - X
have when there are 2n e's in the ladder and o < c < y?
Solution by the proposers.
(a) For a fixed c e (0,1), let
x
fix) := o° :
then f(o) = c > o, /(») = i, and fix) is strictly increasinq. Thus, if we find a
solution to the equation fix) - x for which flix) > l, then there will be at least
three solutions. Every c in (0,1) can be written uniquely as c = a~a for some a > l.
Then o1/a = i/a and fil/a) = l/a. Furthermore,
We show that f'ix) = x has three solutions for all n when c e (o,y). Let x - s\
and x - s% be the first and third solutions, respectively, of fix) = x. (The middle
- 30R -
solution is always x = l/a according to part (a).) We have o < f' (sj) < 1, so si
can be approximated by the iteration process: /"(x) -> s\ a s m - ^ » for any x < l/a.
Even more, o < fix) < s\ for x < sj, so f * ( x ) increases to s\\ consequently,
/"ix) = x for no x < s\. Similarly, f * i x ) decreases to si a s m - ^ » for a?€(si, l/a),
so that f " i x ) = x for x\o x e is\, l/a). The analogous arguments for s 2 imply that,
for any n, f ' ( x ) - x can have no solution except for s l 5 l/a, and s 2 . In fact, as
n -* °°, /*(#) approaches the step function
Editorrs comment.
Meyers noted that the results of this problem, and a great deal of related
material, can be found in a recent article by Knoebel [l]. In that reference,
note particularly Figure 4, which shows that fix) = x has three solutions if
o < a < e~e, one solution if e~e < c < 1, and two solutions if 1 < c < e .
REFERENCE
When doing a problem like this, I always like to know if there can be such
an operator, just to make sure that I am not playing the null game. In this case,
at least one such operator exists, namely, that defined by a°b - a-b.
- 307 -
Also solved by JAMES J. BOWE, Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina; E.C.
BUISSANT DES AMORIE, Amstelveen, The Netherlands; CURTIS COOPER, Central Missouri
State University; CLAYTON W. DODGE, University of Maine at Orono; JOEL ERICKSON,
student, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado; G.C. GIRI, Midnapore College, West
Bengal, India; J.T. GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands; J.D. HISCOCKS, University of
Lethbridge, Alberta; PETER A. LINDSTROM, Genesee Community College, Batavia, N.Y.;
ANDY LIU, University of Alberta; LEROY F. MEYERS, The Ohio State University; DAN
SOKOLOWSKY, California State University at Los Angeles; DAVID R. STONE, Georgia
Southern College; ANDREAS STRIEBICH, student, Goethe Gymnasium, Gaggenau, West
Germany; RAM REKHA TIWARI, Radhaur, Bihar, India; ROBERT TRANQUILLE, College de
Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec; and the proposer.
Editor's comment.
Nearly all solutions received for this easy problem were essentially equivalent,
so presentation was the deciding factor in selecting one for publication. In the
editor's opinion, the one we have featured won by a whisker.
Meyers noted that the restriction to real numbers is unnecessary, since the
desired conclusion holds for the elements of any group, or, more generally, for
the elements of any set in which a unary operation "-" (such that -0=0 for some
element 0 and -(-a) = a for all elements a) and a binary operation "o" are defined
which satisfy (i) and (ii).
S'I & &
i i . J G CG_ (1)
GA* + G F +
GC " d
* K J
1 1 1 9
- + - + ->
p q r p+q+r
with equality just when p = q = r. Applying this to (1), we obtain
- 308
whence, since M /AG = l + GA'/AG, e t c . ,
M /AG + AL/BG + M /CG > 6.
a £ c
M /m + M^/m, + M /m > 4.
a a b b o o
and so
Va = I + lH/mP +
¥m»
With this and two similar results, we obtain, with sums cyclic over a9b9c9
W lm
a a - I + ¥HK + ml/mP * *>
since x1 + l/x2 > 2, with equality just when m = mh = m , that is, just when the
triangle is equilateral.
III. Solution by M.S. Klamkini University of Alberta.
Since m (M -m ) = a 2 A , etc., the proposed inequality is equivalent to
a a a
2 2
= (2)
ITW? W+z^-a* - *•
a
where the sums, here and later, are cyclic over a9b9c. It is a known result
(see [H] or my comment following my solution of Crux 589 [1981: 308]) that if
Ka9b,c9m m^ m ) > 0
a 9 b9 Q
which follows immediately from x2 + 1/x2 > 2. There is equality if and only if the
triangle is equilateral. •
It is known [5] that, if a,b,c are the sides of a triangle, then so are an,
n n
b ,c for anynsuch that o < n < l. With n = J, it therefore follows from (2) that
L
2b+2e-a ~ '
which is not so easy to prove directly.
More generally, I show that, for k > l,
K6)
l<k(b+c)-a ~ 2k-V
with equality if and only if a = b = c.
Proof. Let x = s-a9 y = s-b9 z = s-os where s is the semi perimeter; then
a = i/+2, b = z+x, a = x+y,
and (3) is equivalent to
we have
3 3
(Sk-DTM + 9<fc+l)T3 < r5^"37)^ + 9 ( ^ ) T l = 2(fc-l)Ti.
y z _ az 2, z > 3
Lk(b +c )-a ~ 2k-l>
and, even more generally, to determine all fixed k and n such that
n Q
y s > 3.
7 /tW ?^v w 2k-i
k(b +o )-a
Also solved by J.T. GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands; GALI SALVATORE, Perkins,
Quebec; GEORGE TSINTSIFAS, Thessaloniki, Greece; and the proposer. A comment was
sent by S.C. CHAN, Singapore ; and one incorrect solution was received, wherein it
is "proved" that the inequality of the problem must be reversed!
- 310 -
REFERENCES
that is,
fix) = em - (*fe<«-l>* + (nyn-2)x _ _ + ^n-1 (n_y + ( _1}^
from which it is clear that s* - f (n+k) (o). Therefore s, = (n+fc)! x the coeffi-
cient o f / + in the Maclaurin expansion of (l). This expansion, as far as we need,
is
4ft \ J1 . n n+1 , «(3«+l) n+2 n2in+l) n+3
fix) = a* + ^c + ———x + —^ - g — ^ + ... ,
nn+kPr(Ek) = Sr
We easily (but tediously) find that
REFERENCES
H E«S
THAT
FUN
MATHS,
HUNTER
The apostrophe has no mathematical significance and the answer, l i k e the man himself,
is unigue.
Solution by Clayton W. Dodge3 University of Maine at Orono.
It is immediately apparent that H = 1 5 M = 9S and U = o. Now
- 312 -
2S + T + N = R + 10a 9 a = 1 or 2,
a + A + 1 = 10,
3 + F = 10,
and
1+T+A=N+10.
Also solved by E.G. BUISSANT DES AMORIE, Amstelveen, The Netherlands; RICHARD I.
HESS, Rancho Palos Verdes, California; J.A.H. HUNTER, Toronto, Ontario; W.C. IGIPS,
Danbury, Connecticut; ALLAN WM. JOHNSON JR., Washington, D.C.; STANLEY RABINOWITZ,
Digital Equipment Corp.,Merrimack, New Hampshire; DONVAL R. SIMPSON, Fairbanks, Alaska;
ROBERT TRANQUILLE, College de Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec; CHARLES W. TRIGG, San
Diego, California; KENNETH M. WILKE, Topeka, Kansas; DAVID ZAGORSKI, student, Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology; and the proposer.
and
B. = {j I 1 £ j < n and the ith coordinate of P . is 1}.
Clearly, (a) and (b) hold for i = 1,2,...,&. To show that (c) and (d) hold, let
1 < i9j < n with i * j . Since P. and P. are in different equivalence classes,
there exist integers t 0 and j 0 , 1 < t 0st 7 0 ^ &» s u c n that
i 0 th coordinate of P. = t 0 th coordinate of P.
and
j 0 th coordinate of P. * jo^h coordinate of P..
t 0
Thus € and j are either both in A. or both in B. , and one of i and J is in 4. and
to *o Jo
the other is in B . .
JO VA
Proof of (ii). Suppose n > 2 and let >!.,£., j = l,2,...,fc, be 2fc subsets of
V V
S . If the subsets i4.,B. satisfy (a) and (b), then there is a function f;Sn + E
defined by
(0, if i e A.,
d
jth coordinate of f{i) = I
1, if i e B. 9
J
fc-l
for t = l,2,...,n and j = l,2,...,k. Since n > 2 , there exist distinct integers
t0 and Jo, 1 < to Jo * «» such that /(to) ~ f(jo)9 and either (c) or (d) is fa1se0
Also solved by J.D. HISCOCKS, University of Lethbridge, Alberta; and the proposer.
Comments were received from PAUL R. BEESACK, Carleton University, Ottawa; and DAVID
R„ STONE, Georgia Southern College, Statesboro, Georgia.
- 311 -
6^3, [1981: 301] Proposed by Fervell Wheeler, student, Texas A & M University.
On a ux^ tick-tack-toe board, a winninq path consists of four squares in
a row, column, or diaqonal. In how many ways can three X's be placed on the board,
not all on the same winninq path, so that if a qame is played on this partly-filled
board, X goinq first, then X can absolutely force a win?
Editor's comment.
No solution was received for this problem, which therefore remains open.
it »'• &
Also solved by E.C. BUISSANT DES AMORIE, Amstelveen, The Netherlands; JORDI DOU,
Barcelona, Spain; ROLAND H. EDDY, Memorial University of Newfoundland (second solu-
tion); J.T. GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands; F.G.B. MASKELL, Algonquin College,
Ottawa; STANLEY RABINOWITZ, Digital Equipment Corp., Merrimack, New Hampshire;
KESIRAJU SATYANARAYANA, Gagan Mahal Colony, Hyderabad, India; and GEORGE TSINTSIFAS,
Thessaloniki, Greece.
s'c ft &
= ( 4 i ? s i n ^ c o s ~ ) ( r c o t ^ ) ( c o s B - cos C)
= 4i?2*C0S2r-(C0S B - COS C)
l(Bp2 DC2)
2i?r = l ( c o s B - cosC) + FcosA(cosB - cosC) = o,
Also solved by DAN SOKOLOWSKY, California State University at Los Angeles; and
the proposer. Comments (pointing out the error in the original formulation of the
problem) were received from JORDI DOU, Barcelona, Spain? ROLAND H. EDDY, Memorial
University of Newfoundland; and STANLEY RABINOWITZ, Digital Equipment Corp., Merrimack,
New Hampshire.
REFERENCE
= sin^ + (2nsin^)csc^
and two similar results (sums and products throuqhout are cyclic over A,B,C), we
net
z c o s — ^ = E s i n ^ t (2nsin~)zcsc^; (1)
and from
A R-f A
cos B + cos C = 2 s i n ^ c o s ^ - 2 s 1 n ^ <2)
and obtain
R-P
E C O S - — > ECOSA + 3 ( E C O S A - l ) = 4E COS A - 3 , (6)
which is equivalent to the inequality proposed in part (a). Equality holds in (3)
and (4), and hence in (6), iust when the trianqle is equilateral,
(b) It is easy to show (or see [2]) that
Eacos — - = rCZH<5)s1n| ,
- 317 -
and them, from (2), we have
A
l(b+o)sir)^ > ii(b+o)(cosB + cosC).
Now, with K and i? the area and circumradius of the trianale, respectively, we have
and therefore
(7)
racos^,a(l + f).
In all the inequalities we have used, and hence in (7), equality holds just when
the triangle is equilateral. •
If we compare
E C O S ^ > 4ECOS A - 3 (6)
and
ECOS^ > 2|. (10)
y = &{1 + ija?)
divides the type II region (shaded with horizontal lines in the figure on page 65)
into two parts, in one of which we have
Inequality (10) is sharper than (9) for the type II triangles which satisfy (11) 9
and (9) is sharper than d o ) for the type II triangles which satisfy (12).
Also solved by KESIRAJU SATYANARAYANA, Gagan Mahal Colony, Hyderabad, India;
and by the proposer.
REFERENCES
P97, [1981: 302] Proposed by G.C. Giri3 Midnapore College^ West Bengal^ India.
Let
a - tan e + tan $,
b = sec e + sec $,
c = esc e + esc <j>.
If the angles e and <j> are such that the requisite functions are defined and be * o 9
show that 2a/bc < 1.
Solution by W.J, Blundon^ Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Let u - tan (0/2) and v - tan (<f>/2). It follows from the hypothesis that neither
u nor v can eaual any of -l, o, l. Now
2u 2v 2(
.. _ u+v)(l-uv)
a
" TU? +
T^v7 (±-uz)(i-v2)'
- 319 -
1+u2 1+t
h . + ^ 2(1+UV)(1-U.V)
+
TIF T^v7 ~ '(i-uz)(i-vz) 9
lm2 lw2 _ (u+v)(l-ntv)
° 2u 2v 2uv
Therefore;
be (l+uv)z x
(l+uv)* ^ 1
'
Editor's comment.
Several solvers proved instead that be > 2a, which they claimed was equivalent
to 2a/bc < l- This would have been true if the proposal had read: "Prove that
be > 2a if b andc are of the same sign." (This, in fact, is exactly the wording
the proposer had used, and Rabinowitz found the problem, in the exact notation and
wording of the proposer, in Hobson [13.) But the proposal as modified by the
editor is slightly more general and allows the possibility be < o, so be > 2a is
not equivalent to 2a/be < 1.
REFERENCE
1. E.W. Hobson, A Treatise on Plane and Advanced Trigonometry, Dover, New York,
1957, p. 101, Ex. 6M-.
ft & &
00
Editor's commment.
Several (but by no means all) of the solutions to this easy problem were equiv-
alent to the trivial one qiven above. We chose to feature one submitted in French
precisely because the problem was easy, to enable our readers to improve their
French, if not their mathematics.
* ii «
(This result has appeared frequently in the literature. See, e.g., Cl], where more
references are aiven.) With the qiven values of a,b,o, equation (1) becomes
- 321 -
-^f
III a III b
This equation has one positive and two neqative roots, the positive root beina
(For information as to how this root was obtained, see Rausen [2].) We note that,
since the central angles subtended by the chords a,b,c are additive on one side
of the diameter, the chords may be taken in any of 3! = 6 orders.
Cases II and III. In case II, we have
ao = ef + bx, e2 + c2 = x2, f2+a2=x29
- 322 -
This equation has one neqative and two positive roots. Since /(o) - / ( 3 ) < o , one
of the positive roots is less than 3, an impossible diameter with chords greater
than 3. The other positive root, which is acceptable, is
x = ^ C O S ( | - j U r c C O S ^ I ) » 5.18026779.
In a circle with this diameter, there is one crossed quadrilateral (and its reflec-
tion) of type II with sides in the order (4,3,5,x)9 and two crossed quadrilaterals
(and their reflections) of type III with sides in the orders (3,4,5,ic) and (3,5,4,#).
Editor's comment.
Did the proposal say that the quadrilateral was convex? It did not. Yet, the
editor reqrets to report, in a rare display of unanimity each of the twenty-three
other solvers tacitly assumed that the quadrilateral was convex and thus was led
to consider only equation (2). Poets may rhapsodize about majority rule (democracy
is for the bards), but here we have a proof that you can fool all of the people some
of the time. Our proposer, an old pro, constitutes an overwhelmina majority of
one. Caveat lectori
REFERENCES
1 , Problem 880 (proposed by Richard Corary) , Mathematics Magazine, 48 (January
1975) 53.
2. John Rausen, "Solving cubic equations on a pocket calculator", this journal,
6 (1980) 5-7.
- 323 -
701, C1982: 1M-] Proposed by Alan Wayne, Holiday, Florida.
Ever since her X-rated contribution to the solution of Crux 411 [1979: 299]
shocked the old lady from Dubuque, EDITH ORR (long may she swing!) has maintained
a low profile. Yet we all know that she is always THERE at the editor's elbow, like
as not blowing in his ear. So we should all be able to solve the subtraction
EDITH
- ORR.
THERE"
Solution by Sam Baethge3 Southwest High School3 San Antonio3 Texas.
Expressing the problem as an addition,
THERE
+ ORR ,
EDITH
we see immediately that H = 9, D = o 9 and
E = T + 1, E + R = 9, 2R = T + a, (1)
4 + 0 = I + 10, or 0-1 = 6,
for which the remaining digits give 0 = 7 and I = l as the only possible values.
The given subtraction therefore has the unique solution
30129
- 766
29363 '
Also solved by HAYO AHLBURG, Benidorm, Alicante, Spain; CLAYTON w. DODGE, Uni-
versity of Maine at Orono; MILTON P. EISNER, Mount Vernon College, Washington, D.C.;
MEIR FEDER, Haifa, Israel; J.T. GROENMAN, Arnhem, The Netherlands; J.A.H. HUNTER,
Toronto, Ontario; W.C. IGIPS, Danbury, Connecticut; ALLAN WM„ JOHNSON JR., Washington,
D.C.; ROBERT S. JOHNSON, Montreal, Quebec; FRIEND H. KIERSTEAD, JR., Cuyahoga Falls,
Ohio? F.G.B. MASKELL, Algonquin College, Ottawa; STANLEY RABINOWITZ, Digital Equip-
ment Corp., Merrimack, New Hampshire; RAM REKHA TIWARI, Radhaur, Bihar, India;
ROBERT TRANQUILLE, College de Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec; CHARLES W. TRIGG, San
Diego, California; KENNETH M. WILKE, Topeka, Kansas; ANNELIESE ZIMMERMANN, Bonn, West
Germany; and the proposer.
k = (z-a)(z-a\ ) * 09
_1_ + _?L_ + _ J 1 _ = o
z-a\ a-3i S-YI
One root of this equation is the affix of the point M, so M and the resultinq tri-
anqle ABC can be identified.
Editor's comment.
Still unresolved in the above solution of this interestinq problem are the
followinq questions:
(a) The editor would like to receive a simple proof or a reference for the
"well-known" relation (2), which appears to be correct. It would qreatly ease the
editor's burden if solvers were to assume that he knows far less than they do,
and give proofs or references for results that are "well known" to only a few.
- 325 -
(b) If the point M is assumed to exist, which root s 0 of (6) gives its affix,
and what is the geometrical significance, if any, of the other root?
(c) Conversely, if z0 is the appropriate root of (6), it must be shown that
the point M whose affix is s 0 , and the resulting triangle ABC, satisfy (l).
(d) Can the problem be extended, perhaps by removing the requirement that
l,>m9n be positive and using signed areas?
Readers are invited to answer these questions, or else to find an entirely
different approach to the problem.
* * *
704, C1982: 14] Proposed by H. Kestelman, University College, London, England.
Suppose A\ , A 2 9 . . . , A . are square matrices of any orders and no two have a
common eigenvalue. If f\9f2 /• are a n Y given polynomials, then there is a poly-
nomial F such that F(A ) = f (A ) for all r.
J
r r r
Solution by the proposer.
Let g be the product of the characteristic polynomials of all the A with
s * r. Since the gr are pairwise co-prime, there exist polynomials $x, <f>2, ...s Q
<J>.
such that
r=l
II. Incorrect solution by X3 who deserves to take on holy orders and receive
a one-way ticket to "Pagan Island,
Let u denote the number of unconverted villages on the island (at any particular
point in time) and let m denote the number of (live) missionaries on the island at
that time. I claim that urn is always 26.
Proof. Initially, u = 26, 777 = 0, so u-m = 26. There are only two events that
can occur:
Eoent 1. Missionary arrives at an unconverted village. Here m increases bv l
and u decreases by 1.
- 327 -
Event 2. Missionary arrives at a converted villaqe. Here (alas) 777 decreases
by 1 and u increases by 1.
In all cases, u+m is invariant. D
Thus, when all the missionaries were gone, m - 0, and we must have u = 26.
Also solved by HAYO AHLBURG, Benidorm, Alicante, Spain; SAM BAETHGE, Southwest
High School, San Antonio, Texas; PAUL R. BEESACK, Carleton University, Ottawa;
CLAYTON W. DODGE, University of Maine at Orono; ROBERT S. JOHNSON, Montreal, Quebec;
FRIEND H. KIERSTEAD, JR., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; ROBERT TRANQUILLE, College de Mai-
sonneuve, Montreal, Quebec; ANNELIESE ZIMMERMANN, Bonn, West Germany; and the
proposer.
Editor's comment.
All solutions credited above were correct, although a few contained more arm-
waving than strict application of logic. All solutions assumed that all missionaries
travel in the same direction, but Kierstead showed in addition that some villages
may remain converted if the missionaries do not all travel in the same direction in
qoing from one village to the next. Beesack proved more generally that if k mis-
sionaries visit the island, where 1 < k < 26, then 26-fc villages remain converted
at the end. The debacle at Pagan Island inspired one solver to guote:
A man convinced against his will
Is of the same opinion still.
This is one of the famous misguotations of literary history (another is "a rose is
a rose is a rose", about which more next month in the solution of Crux 711). The
correct guotation is
He that complies against his will
Is of his own opinion still.
(Samuel Butler (1612-1680), in Hudibras , Part III, Canto III, line 547.)
Our first solver's phrase "conversion to ... hierophagy" shows that cannibalism
is the religion of the missionaries* whose fleeting effects last only until the
next meal of long pig. Meyers also sent with his solution a copy of a cartoon from
Monster Rally, by Charles Addams, showing a group of cannibals seated around a boil-
ing missionary-size kettle. One of them says to another: "Oh, I like missionary,
all right, but missionary doesn't like me." To which we may reply: "Well, just
leave him there and eat the noodles."
f; it &
A Double dactyl
THE MOST DEDEKINDEST CUT OF ALL
Upper class, lower class, "How can I deal with their
Herr Richard Dedekind, Irrationality?
Plagued by real numbers, was Ho! By Eudoxus, I'll
Stuck in a rut. Start with a cut!"
LEROY F. MEYERS
The Ohio State University
- 329 -
INDEX TO VOLUPE 8 , 1982