IMO 2008 Q2 #
(a) Prove that
x^2 / (x-1)^2 + y^2 / (y-1)^2 + z^2 / (z-1)^2 ≥ 1
```
for all real numbers x,y, z, each different from 1, and satisfying xyz = 1.
(b) Prove that equality holds above for infinitely many triples of rational numbers x, y, z,
each different from 1, and satisfying xyz = 1.
Solution #
(a) Since xyz = 1, we can apply the substitution x = a/b, y = b/c, z = c/a.
Then we define m = c-b, n = b-a and rewrite the inequality as LHS - 1 ≥ 0
using c, m and n. We factor LHS - 1 as a square, which finishes the proof.
(b) We present a set W of rational triples. We prove that W is a subset of the
set of rational solutions to the equation, and that W is infinite.