Problems

Age
Difficulty
Found: 20

Prove that amongst any 7 different numbers it is always possible to choose two of them, \(x\) and \(y\), so that the following inequality was true: \[0 < \frac{x-y}{1+xy} < \frac{1}{\sqrt3}.\]

Cambria was building various cuboids from \(1\times 1\times1\) cubes. She initially built one cuboid, then increased its length and width by \(1\) and reduced its height by \(2\). She then understood that she needs the same number of \(1\times 1\times 1\) cubes to build both the original and new cuboids. Prove that the number of cubes used for each of the cuboids is divisible by \(3\).

Find the representation of \((a+b)^n\) as the sum of \(X_{n,k}a^kb^{n-k}\) for general \(n\). Here by \(X_{n,k}\) we denote coefficients that depend only on \(k\) and \(n\).

The positive real numbers \(a, b, c, x, y\) satisfy the following system of equations: \[\left\{ \begin{aligned} x^2 + xy + y^2 = a^2\\ y^2 + yz + z^2 = b^2\\ x^2 + xz + z^2 = c^2 \end{aligned} \right.\]

Find the value of \(xy + yz + xz\) in terms of \(a, b,\) and \(c.\)

Find a representation as a product of \(a^{2n+1} + b^{2n+1}\) for general \(a,b,n\).

Find the mistake in the sequence of equalities: \(-1=(-1)^{\frac{2}{2}}=((-1)^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}=1^{\frac{1}{2}}=1\).

Recall that \((n+1)^2=n^2+2n+1\) and after expansion we get \((n+1)^2-(2n+1)=n^2\). Subtract \(n(2n+1)\) from both sides \((n+1)^2-(2n+1)-n(2n+1)=n^2-n(2n+1)\) and rewrite it as \((n+1)^2-(n+1)(2n+1)=n^2-n(2n+1)\).
Now we add \(\frac{(2n+1)^2}{4}\) to both sides: \((n+1)^2-(n+1)(2n+1)+\frac{(2n+1)^2}{4}=n^2-n(2n+1)+\frac{(2n+1)^2}{4}\).
Factor both sides into square: \(((n+1)-\frac{2n+1}{2})^2=(n-\frac{2n+1}{2})^2\).
Now take the square root: \((n+1)-\frac{2n+1}{2}=n-\frac{2n+1}{2}\).
Add \(\frac{2n+1}{2}\) to both sides and we get \(n+1=n\) which is equivalent to \(1=0\).

Is it true that if \(a\) is a positive number, then \(a^2 \ge a\)? What about \(a^2 +1 \ge a\)?

Show for positive \(a\) and \(b\) that \(a^2 +b^2 \ge 2ab\).

Is it true that if \(b\) is a positive number, then \(b^3 + b^2 \ge b\)? What about \(b^3 +1 \ge b\)?