Longest side is in interval

Geometry Level pending

If a a , b b , and c c are three sides of a triangle, then the value of max ( a , b , c ) \max (a,b,c) is in the interval [ p ( a + b + c ) , q ( a + b + c ) ) [p(a+b+c),q(a+b+c)) . If p + q p+q can be expressed as x y \dfrac{x}{y} , where x x and y y are relative primes, find x + y x+y .


The answer is 11.

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1 solution

Chew-Seong Cheong
Apr 20, 2017

Without loss of generality, let a b c a \le b \le c , then max ( a , b , c ) = c \max(a,b,c) =c . And let b = a + δ b = a+\delta and c = a + δ + ϵ c = a+\delta+\epsilon , where δ , ϵ 0 \delta, \epsilon \ge 0 . Then let p = c a + b + c = a + δ + ϵ a + b + c p = \dfrac {\color{#3D99F6}c}{a+b+c} = \dfrac {\color{#3D99F6}a+\delta+\epsilon}{a+b+c} . Therefore, p p is minimum, when δ = ϵ = 0 \delta=\epsilon=0 , then a = b = c a=b=c and p = a a + b + c = a 3 a = 1 3 p = \dfrac {a}{a+b+c} = \dfrac a{3a} = \dfrac 13 .

By triangle inequality , we have a + b > c a+b > c and the limit is reached when C 18 0 \angle C \to 180^\circ , then c a + b c \to a+b and q = c a + b + c = a + b a + b + a + b = 1 2 q = \dfrac {\color{#3D99F6}c}{a+b+c} = \dfrac {\color{#3D99F6}a+b}{a+b+{\color{#3D99F6}a+b}} = \dfrac 12 .

Therefore, p + q = 1 3 + 1 2 = 5 6 p+q=\dfrac 13+\dfrac 12 = \dfrac 56 ; x + y = 5 + 6 = 11 \implies x+y = 5+6 = \boxed{11} .

I think you have a typo in the first line. δ , ϵ \delta, \epsilon should be greater or equal 0.

Marta Reece - 4 years, 1 month ago

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Thanks. I have changed it.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 1 month ago

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