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.