A square is cut into red and blue rectangles. The sum of areas of red triangles is equal to the sum of areas of the blue ones. For each blue rectangle, we write the ratio of the length of its vertical side to the length of its horizontal one and for each red rectangle, the ratio of the length of its horizontal side to the length of its vertical side. Find the smallest possible value of the sum of all the written numbers.
Problem
Source: St Petersburg 11.7
Tags: geometry, rectangle, ratio
Rickyminer
31.01.2022 18:38
$5/2$
Split the square into two congruent rectangles, the sum of written numbers is $2+1/2=5/2$.
Suppose the square is $A \times A$, blue rectangles are $b_i \times c_i$, red rectangles are $r_j \times s_j$. ( $ \text{horizontal length} \times \text{vertical length}$.)
The area condition implies $\sum b_ic_i = \sum r_js_j = A^2/2$. The crucial claim is
Claim. $\sum c_i \ge A$ or $\sum r_j \ge A$.
Proof. Suppose that $\sum c_i < A$. Then there exists a horizontal line, which doesn't pass through any red rectangles. Therefore, the sum of the horizontal lengths of the blue rectangles it passes through is $A$, so $\sum r_j \ge A$.
WLOG suppose $\sum c_i \ge A$. Use C-S and note that $s_j \le A$,
$$ \sum \frac{c_i}{b_i} + \sum \frac{r_j}{s_j} \ge \frac{\left( \sum c_i \right)^2}{\sum b_ic_i} + \sum \frac{r_js_j}{A^2} \ge 2+1/2=5/2. $$