Problems

Imagine you have now a general finite number of new guests arriving to the full hotel. What do you do?

Today we will solve some geometric problems using the triangle inequality. This is an inequality between the lengths of the sides of any triangle, or between the distances of any three points.

The shortest path between any two points \(A\) and \(B\) is a straight segment - every other path is longer. In particular, a path through another point, \(C\), is equal or longer. \[AC + BC \ge AB\] The triangle inequality says that the sum of lengths of any two sides of a triangle is always larger than the length of the third side. The inequality only becomes an equality if \(ABC\) is not actually a triangle and the point \(C\) lies on the segment from \(A\) to \(B\).

Even though it is a simple idea, it can be a really helpful tool in problem solving.

A circle is inscribed into the triangle \(ABC\) with sides \(BC=6, AC=10\) and \(AB= 12\). A line tangent to the circle intersects two longer sides of the triangle \(AB\) and \(AC\) at the points \(F\) and \(G\) respectively. Find the perimeter of the triangle \(AFG\).

Liam saw an unusual clock in the museum: the clock had no digits, and it’s not clear how the clock should be rotated. That is, we know that \(1\) is the next digit clockwise from \(12\), \(2\) is the next digit clockwise from \(1\), and so on. Moreover all the arrows (hour, minute, and second) have the same length, so it’s not clear which is which. What time does the clock show?

Two circles are tangent to each other and the smaller circle with the center \(A\) is located inside the larger circle with the center \(C\). The radii \(CD\) and \(CE\) are tangent to the smaller circle and the angle \(\angle DCE = 60^{\circ}\). Find the ratio of the radii of the circles.

For positive real numbers \(a,b,c\) prove the inequality: \[(a^2b + b^2c + c^2a)(ab^2 + bc^2 + ca^2)\geq 9a^2b^2c^2.\]

On a \(10\times 10\) board, a bacterium sits in one of the cells. In one move, the bacterium shifts to a cell adjacent to the side (i.e. not diagonal) and divides into two bacteria (both remain in the same new cell). Then, again, one of the bacteria sitting on the board shifts to a new adjacent cell, either horizontally or vertically, and divides into two, and so on. Is it possible for there to be an equal number of bacteria in all cells after several such moves?

Let \(p\) and \(q\) be two prime numbers such that \(q = p + 2\). Prove that \(p^q + q^p\) is divisible by \(p + q\).

Let \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) be two concentric circles with \(C_1\) inside \(C_2\) and the center \(A\). Let \(B\) and \(D\) be two points on \(C_1\) that are not diametrically opposite. Extend the segment \(BD\) past \(D\) until it meets the circle \(C_2\) in \(C\). The tangent to \(C_2\) at \(C\) and the tangent to \(C_1\) at \(B\) meet in a point \(E\). Draw from \(E\) the second tangent to \(C_2\) which meets \(C_2\) at the point \(F\). Show that \(BE\) bisects angle \(\angle FBC\).

Michael made a cube with edge \(1\) out of eight bars as in the picture. All \(8\) bars have the same volume. The dimensions of the grey bars are the same as each other. Similarly, the dimensions of the white bars are the same as each other. Find the lengths of the edges of the white bars.