Junior Problems

J559. Let
2n2
an = 1 − √ , n = 1, 2, 3, ...
1 + 1 + 4n4
√ √ √
Prove that a1 + 2 a2 + · · · + 20 a20 is an integer.

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

J560. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that

2 5 45 16 24 48
2
+ 2+ 2 > 2
+ 2
+ .
a b c (a + b) (b + c) (c + a)2

Proposed by Kartik Vedula, James S. Rickards High School, Tallahassee, USA

J561. Solve in nonzero real numbers the system of equations:

1 2 1 2 1 2
x− + = y − + = z − + = 0.
x y y z z x

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

J562. Let ABC be a triangle and let D, E, F be points on sides BC, CA, AB, respectively, suchthatAD, BE, CF
BD CE AF 1
are concurrent in X. Assume that the ratios , , are in the interval , 5 and that
DC EA F B 5
BD CE AF 31
+ + = . Evaluate
DC EA F B 5
AX BX CX
+ + .
XD XE XF

Proposed by Mohammad Imran, India

J563. Let a, b, c ≥ 0 be real numbers such that ab + bc + ca = a + b + c > 0. Prove that

1 1 1 7
1≤ + + ≤ .
1 + 2a 1 + 2b 1 + 2c 5

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

J564. Find all complex numbers z such that for each real number a and each positive integer n

(cos a + z sin a)n = cos na + z sin na

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

Mathematical Reflections 4 (2021) 1

 Senior Problems

S559. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be positive real numbers such that a1 + a2 + · · · + an ≤ n. Find the minimum of
1 1 1
+ + ··· + n.
a1 2a22 nan

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

S560. Let a, b, c be nonnegative real numbers such that a + b + c = 2. Prove that

a b c 10
+ + +8≥ .
b2 + bc + c2 c2 + ca + a2 a2 + ab + b2 ab + bc + ca

Proposed by Marius Stănean, Zalău, România

S561. Let p be a prime. Solve in positive integers the equation

3
3
3
x2 − yz + y 2 − zx + z 2 − xy − 3 x2 − yz y 2 − zx z 2 − xy = p2 .

Proposed by Alessandro Ventullo, Milan, Italy

S562. Let a, b, c, d be nonnegative real numbers. Prove that

(a + b + c + d)3 + 9(abc + abd + acd + bcd) ≥ 4(a + b + c + d)(ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd).

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

S563. Let a, b, c be distinct positive real numbers. Prove that at least one of the numbers

1 2 1 2
     2
1
a+ (1 − b4 ) ; b+ (1 − c4 ) ; c+ (1 − a4 )
a b c

is not equal to 4.

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

S564. Let x, y, z be nonegative real numbers. Prove that

x3 + y 3 + z 3 + 3xyz 5
 
1 1 1
+ ≥ (xy + yz + zx) + + .
(x + y)2 (y + z)2 (z + x)2
P
cyc xy(x + y) 4

Proposed by Marius Stănean, Zalău, România

Mathematical Reflections 4 (2021) 2

 Undergraduate Problems

U559. Evaluate Z r
1
1 + dx
x

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

U560. Let 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ... be the Fibonacci sequence. Evaluate

!
1 cot(1) cot( 12 ) cot( 31 ) cot( 15 )
lim 1+ + + + + + ...
n→∞ n cot( 12 ) cot( 13 ) cot( 15 ) cot( 18 )

Proposed by Toyesh Prakash Sharma, St.C.F. Andrews School, Agra, India

U561. The Fibonacci numbers Fn are defined as follows:

Fn+2 = Fn+1 + Fn , F0 = 0, F1 = 1.

Prove that
5
2Fn Fn+1 − 2Fn5 Fn+1 = Fn6 + Fn+1
6 2
− Fn+1 − Fn2 .

Proposed by Angel Plaza, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

U562. Let ABCD be a square. Variable points P and Q are taken on sides AB and BC, respectively, such
that ∠P DQ = 45◦ . Find the locus of the orthocenter of triangle P DQ.

Proposed by Mircea Becheanu, Canada

U563. Find all polynomials P (X) with real coefficients such that for all real numbers x,

P (x2 ) + x P (x3 ) − x2 = P (x5 ) + x.

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

4n
!
n+1
X k 4 + 3k 2 − 1
U564. Evaluate lim (−1) · sin arctan 4
n→+∞ k − k2 + 7
k=1

Proposed by Paolo Perfetti, Università degli studi di Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy

Mathematical Reflections 4 (2021) 3

 Olympiad Problems

O559. Let x, y, z be real numbers such that none of them lies in the interval (−1, 1) and
1 1 1
+ + + x + y + z = 0.
x y z
z
Find the minimum of .
x+y

Proposed by Marius Stănean, Zalău, România

O560. Prove that there are infinitely many triples (a, b, c) of integers for which ab + bc + ca = 1 and that for
each such triple (a2 + 1)(b2 + 1)(c2 + 1) is a perfect square.

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

O561. Let ABC be a triangle. Prove that

a2 b2 c2 2
2 2
+ 2 2
+ 2 2
≤ (a2 + b2 + c2 ).
1 + cos B + cos C 1 + cos C + cos A 1 + cos A + cos B 3

Proposed by An Zhenping, Xianyang Normal University, China

O562. Find all functions f : R −→ R such that

x2 f (y) + f (y 2 f (x)) = xyf (x + y),

for all real numbers x, y.

Proposed by Prodromos Fotiadis, Nikiforos High School, Drama, Greece

O563. Prove that in any triangle ABC,

r r r
ma mb mc 6(ab + bc + ca)
+ + + ≥ 5.
ha hb hc (a + b + c)2

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

O564. Let n ≥ 3 be an integer. For every sequence −1 = x1 < x2 < · · · < xn = 1 of real numbers and every
k = 1, 2, . . . , n we define

Dk (x2 , . . . , xn−1 ) = |(xk − x1 ) . . . (xk − xk−1 )(xk − xk+1 ) . . . (xk − xn )|

and denote
rn = maxx2 ,...,xn−1 mink Dk (x2 , . . . , xn−1 ).
Assume that rn is achieved at the sequence −1 = a1 < a2 < · · · < an = 1. Prove that

D2 (a2 , . . . , an−1 ) = · · · = Dn−1 (a2 , . . . , an−1 ).

Proposed by Navid Safaei, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Mathematical Reflections 4 (2021) 4