Problems

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Found: 674

Prove the reverse triangle inequality: for every pair of real numbers \(x\), \(y\), we have \(\left| \left| x \right| - \left| y \right| \right| \leq \left| x - y \right|\).

Can you come up with a divisibility rule for \(5^n\), where \(n=1\), \(2\), \(3\), . . .? Prove that the rule works.

Show that for each \(n=1\), \(2\), \(3\), . . ., we have \(n<2^n\).

You and I are going to play a game. We have one million grains of sand in a bag. We take it in turns to remove \(2\), \(3\) or \(5\) grains of sand from the bag. The first person that cannot make a move loses.

Would you go first?

For every natural number \(k\ge2\), find two combinations of \(k\) real numbers such that their sum is twice their product.

Show that \(n^2+n+1\) is not divisible by \(5\) for any natural number \(n\).

Prove the following identity for any three non-zero real numbers \(a,b,c\): \[\frac{b}{2a} + \frac{c^2 + ab}{4bc} - \left|{\frac{c^2 - ab}{4bc}} \right| - \left|{\frac{b}{2a} - \frac{c^2 + ab}{4bc} + \left|{\frac{c^2 - ab}{4bc}}\right|}\right| = \min\{\frac{b}{a},\frac{c}{b},\frac{a}{c}\}.\]

Prove that \(|x|\ge x\). It may be helpful to compare each of \(|3|\), \(|-4.3|\) and \(|0|\) with \(3\), \(-4.3\) and \(0\) respectively.

Let \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) be the three side lengths of a triangle. Does there exist a triangle with side lengths \(a+1\), \(b+1\) and \(c+1\)? Does it depend on what \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are?

There is a triangle with side lengths \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\). Can you form a triangle with side lengths \(\frac{a}{b}\), \(\frac{b}{c}\) and \(\frac{c}{a}\)? Does it depend on what \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are? Give a proof if it is always possible or never possible. Otherwise, construct examples to show the dependence on \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\).
Recall that a triangle can be drawn with side lengths \(x\), \(y\) and \(z\) if and only if \(x+y>z\), \(y+z>x\) and \(z+x>y\).