Curious Condition

Algebra Level 5

Positive reals x , y , z 3 3 x,y,z\ge \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} satisfy the condition x y z + x + y z = 0 xyz+x+y-z=0 . If k x y z x y y z z x 1 kxyz-xy-yz-zx\ge 1 is always true, the the minimum value of k k can be expressed as a b c \dfrac{a\sqrt{b}}{c} for positive integers a , b , c a,b,c with a , c a,c coprime and b b square-free.

What is a + b + c a+b+c ?


The answer is 16.

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2 solutions

Daniel Liu
May 1, 2014

We rearrange the condition to obtain z = x + y 1 x y z=\dfrac{x+y}{1-xy} . This is exactly like the tangent sum formula, so we let x = tan α x=\tan\alpha , y = tan β y=\tan\beta , and therefore z = tan ( α + β ) z=\tan(\alpha+\beta) .

We rearrange the inequality to find k 1 x y z + 1 x + 1 y + 1 z k\ge \dfrac{1}{xyz}+\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z} . Thus we need to find the maximum value of 1 x y z + 1 x + 1 y + 1 z \dfrac{1}{xyz}+\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z} . To do this, we minimize x , y , z x,y,z .

Since x , y 3 3 x,y\ge \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} , then α , β 3 0 \alpha,\beta \ge 30^{\circ} . Since we want to minimize x , y , z x,y,z , we take α = β = 3 0 \alpha=\beta=30^{\circ} . Thus, x = y = tan 3 0 = 3 3 x=y=\tan 30^{\circ}=\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} , and z = tan 6 0 = 3 z=\tan 60^{\circ} = \sqrt{3} .

Thus, 1 x y z + 1 x + 1 y + 1 z = 10 3 3 \dfrac{1}{xyz}+\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z}=\dfrac{10\sqrt{3}}{3} , so our answer is 10 + 3 + 3 = 16 10+3+3=\boxed{16} .

Sorry for the rushed solution, I created a much more thorough solution but I misclicked and all of it got deleted. :(

Fabulous solution. @Daniel Liu

Ashtik Mahapatra - 7 years, 1 month ago

Nice way to relate z z to x , y x, y which makes it clear that when either of x x or y y increases, then z z increases too. Of course, we could use calculus, but that takes the beauty out of the relations that you gave.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 1 month ago

I just tried all cases...

Guilherme Silva - 7 years, 1 month ago

Calvin Lin , can you please tell me how can we use calculus in this problem

Somesh Patil - 7 years, 1 month ago

Log in to reply

@Calvin Lin tagged you.

Daniel Liu - 7 years, 1 month ago

Amazing solution..

Indra Ballav Sonowal - 1 year, 7 months ago
Rishi Evans
May 1, 2014

since it is clear that z>x,y......so for taking the minimum possible value of k let's assume that x=y=3/root over3=1/root over 3........now putting the value of x and y in xyz+x+y-z=0....we get the value of z=root over 3.....now putting the value of x,y and z in kxyz-xy-yz-xz greater than equal to 1.....we get k=(10*root over 3 )/3....therefore a+b+c=10+3+3=16.........

How do you know that there isn't a certain x , y , z x,y,z such that x x or y y is not 3 3 \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} yet k k is smaller than 10 3 3 \dfrac{10\sqrt{3}}{3} ?

Daniel Liu - 7 years, 1 month ago

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