Junior Problems

J439. Solve in real numbers the system of equations:


2 2
2x − 3xy + 2y = 1

y 2 − 3yz + 4z 2 = 2

 2
z + 3zx − x2 = 3

Proposed by Adrian Andreescu, University of Texas at Austin

J440. Let a, b, c, d be distinct nonnegative real numbers. Prove that

a2 b2 c2 d2
+ + + > 2.
(b − c)2 (c − d)2 (d − a)2 (a − b)2

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

J441. Prove that for any positive real numbers a, b, c the following inequality holds
2
(a + b + c)3 a2 + b2 + c2
  
1 1 1
+1≥ + (a + b + c) + + .
3abc ab + bc + ca a b c

Proposed by Nguyen Viet Hung, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam

J442. Let ABC be an equilateral triangle with center O. A line passing through O intersects sides AB and
AC at M and N , respectively. Segments BN and CM intersect at K and segments AK and BO
intersect at P . Prove that M B = M P .

Proposed by Anton Vassilyev, Kazakhstan

J443. Find all pairs (m, n) of integers such that both equations

x2 + mx − n = 0,
x2 + nx − m = 0

have integers roots.

Proposed by Alessandro Ventullo, Milan, Italy

J444. Let a, b, c, d be nonnegative real numbers such that a + b + c + d = 4. Prove that

a3 b + b3 c + c3 d + d3 a + 5abcd ≤ 27.

Proposed by Marius Stănean, Zalău, România

Mathematical Reflections 2 (2018) 1

 Senior Problems

S439. Let ABC be a triangle. Let points D and E be on segment BC and line AC, respectively, such that
4ABC ∼ 4DEC. Let M be the midpoint of BC. Let P be a point such that ∠BP M = ∠CBE and
∠M P C = ∠BED and A, P lie on the same side of BC. Let Q be the intersection of lines AB and P C.
Prove that the lines AC, BP , QD are either concurrent or all parallel.

Proposed by Grant Yu, East Setauket NY, USA

S440. Prove that for any positive real numbers a, b, c the following inequality holds:

a3 b3 c3 3(a3 + b3 + c3 )
+ + ≥ .
bc ca ab a2 + b2 + c2

Proposed by Nguyen Viet Hung, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam

S441. Let a, b, c be positive numbers such that a2 + b2 + c2 = 3. Prove that

ab bc ca
2
+ 2
+ ≤ 1.
4−a 4−b 4 − c2

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

S442. Solve in integers the system of equations:

(
x3 − y 2 − 7z 2 = 2018
7x2 + y 2 + z 3 = 1312.

Proposed by Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas, USA

S443. Let ABC be a triangle, and let ra , rb , rc be its exradii. Prove that
A B C 3
ra cos + rb cos + rc cos ≤ s.
2 2 2 2

Proposed by Dragoljub Miloševic̀, Gornji Milanovac, Serbia

S444. Let x1 , . . . , xn be positive real numbers. Prove that

n
X x n
p k ≤ √ .
x + x 2 + · · · + x2 1+ n
k=1 k 1 n

Proposed by Angel Plaza, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Mathematical Reflections 2 (2018) 2

 Undergraduate Problems

U439. Evaluate
2
x2 + 2x + 3
Z
dx.
1 x4 + x2 + 1
2

Proposed by Alessandro Ventullo, Milan, Italy

U440. Let a, b, c, t ≥ 1. Prove that

1 1 1 3
+ + ≥ .
ta3 + 1 tb3 + 1 tc3 + 1 tabc + 1

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

√
U441. Let x, y, z be nonnegative real numbers such that x + y + z = 1, and let 1 ≤ λ ≤ 3. Determine the
minimum and maximum of
p
f (x, y, z) = λ(xy + yz + zx) + x2 + y 2 + z 2

in terms of λ.

Proposed by Nguyen Viet Hung, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam

Q
U442. Let (pk )k≥1 be the sequence of primes and qn = k≤n pk . For every positive integer n, ω(n) denotes
the number of prime divisors of n. Evaluate
X
(log p)α
p|qn
lim ,
n→∞ ω(qn )1−α (log q n)
α

where α ∈ (0, 1) is a real number.

Proposed by Alessandro Ventullo, Milan, Italy

U443. Find Z π
sin x
lim dx.
n→∞ 0 1 + cos2 nx

Proposed by Robert Bosch, USA

U444. Let p > 2 be a prime and let f (x) ∈ Q[x] be a polynomial such that deg(f ) < p − 1 and xp−1 + xp−2 +
· · ·+1 divides f (x)f (x2 ) · · · f (xp−1 )−1. Prove that there exists a polynomial g(x) ∈ Q[x] and a positive
integer i such that i < p, deg(g) < p − 1, and xp−1 + xp−2 + · · · + 1 | g(xi )f (x) − g(x).

Proposed by Sreejata Kishor Bhattacharya, Chennai Mathematical Institute, India

Mathematical Reflections 2 (2018) 3

 Olympiad Problems

O439. Find all triples (x, y, z) of integers such that

(x − y)2 + (y − z)2 + (z − x)2 = 2018.

Proposed by Titu Andreescu, University of Texas at Dallas, USA

O440. Prove that in any triangle ABC the following inequality holds
 2  2  2
a b c r
+ + + ≥ 1.
b+c c+a a+b 2R

Proposed by Nguyen Viet Hung, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam

O441. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that

1 1 1 a+b+c 3
p +p +p + ≥ .
4 4
2(a + b ) + 4ab 4 4
2(b + c ) + 4bc 4 4
2(c + a ) + 4ca 3 2

When does equality hold?

Proposed by Hoang Le Nhat Tung, Hanoi, Vietnam

O442. Let a, b, c be real numbers such that a + b + c = 3. Prove that

7(a4 + b4 + c4 ) + 27 ≥ (a + b)4 + (b + c)4 + (c + a)4 .

Proposed by Marius Stănean, Zalău, România

O443. Let f (n) be the number of permutations of the set {1, 2, . . . , n} such that no pair of consecutive inte-
gers appears in that order; that is, 2 does not follow 1, 3 does not follow 2, and so on.

(i) Prove that f (n) = (n − 1)f (n − 1) + (n − 2)f (n − 2).

(ii) For any real number α, denote by [α] the nearest integer to α. Prove that
 
1 (n + 1)!
f (n) = .
n e

Proposed by Rishub Thaper, Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Flemington, NJ, USA

O444. Let T be Toricelli point of a triangle ABC. Prove that

1 1 1 9
+ + ≥ .
BC 2 CA2 AB 2 (AT + BT + CT )2

Proposed by Nguyen Viet Hung, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam

Mathematical Reflections 2 (2018) 4