A sequence whose first term is positive has the property that any given term is the area of an equilateral triangle whose perimeter is the preceding term. If the first three terms form an arithmetic progression, determine all possible values of the first term.
Problem
Source: 2021 Irish Mathematical Olympiad P6
Tags: geometry, Equilateral, algebra, Arithmetic Progression
30.05.2021 21:45
Let the first term be $x$. We claim that the only possible values of $x$ are $x=12\sqrt{3}$ and $x=6\sqrt{15}-6\sqrt{3}$, which can be checked. We need to prove they are the only solutions. The perimeter of the triangle will be $x$, so the side length is $\frac{x}{3}$. Hence the next term is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4} \left( \frac{x}{3} \right)^2 = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{36} x^2$. Similarly, the third term will be $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4} \left( \frac{1}{3}\cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{36} x^2 \right)^2=\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{36^3} x^4 = \frac{x}{8} \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x \right)^3$ So the arithmetic progression is $x$, $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{36} x^2$, $\frac{x}{8} \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x \right)^3$. Consequently, $$\frac{x}{8} \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x \right)^3-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{36} x^2=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{36} x^2 - x$$$$\frac{x}{8} \left(\left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x \right)^3-8\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x\right) + 8\right) = 0$$ Since $x>0$, we have $$\left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x \right)^3-8\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x\right) + 8 = 0$$ Let $t=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x$, we have $t^3-8t+8=0$. One can easily check that $t=2$ is a root, so we can factorize the cubic as such: $$(t-2)\left( t^2+2t-4 \right) = 0$$ The solutions of $t^2+2t-4=0$ are $t=-1+\sqrt{5}$ and $t=-1-\sqrt{5}$. However, since $x>0$, we have $t>0$ For $t=-1+\sqrt{5}$, it is positive, so it is valid. Obviously $t=-1-\sqrt{5}$ is negative, so it is rejected. Thus we have $t=2$ and $t=-1+\sqrt{5}$. Plugging $t=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{18} x$ and simplifying gives us our two solutions above. $\blacksquare$