Let $ R$ denote a non-negative rational number. Determine a fixed set of integers $ a,b,c,d,e,f$, such that for every choice of $ R$, \[ \left| \frac{aR^2+bR+c}{dR^2+eR+f}-\sqrt[3]{2}\right| < \left|R-\sqrt[3]{2}\right|.\]
Problem
Source: 1972 USAMO Problem 4
Tags: geometry, 3D geometry, inequalities
06.03.2010 06:19
12.04.2021 07:19
13.04.2023 05:03
futuremospper wrote:
Really nice solution! I think you have a typo in your last line. So, a bit of a clarification: that is equivalent to $\frac{2R+2-2^{1/3}(R+2^{1/3})}{R^2+2R+2}<\frac{2R+2}{R^2+2R+2}\leq1$, as R is nonnegative and so is R^2. Also, the numerator by your selection of numbers is nonnegative at d=1, a=b=2, and denominator is nonnegative trivially since R is nonnegative and b=2 is also nonnegative. BTW, \[ \left | \frac{aR + b-d \cdot 2^{\frac{1}{3}} \left (R + 2^{\frac{1}{3}} \right )}{dR^2+aR+b} \right | < 1\]is gotten from substituting, from $\frac{aR^2+bR+c-2^{1/3}(dR^2/2+aR+b)}{dR^2+aR+b}=\frac{aR(R-2^{1/3})+b(R-2^{1/3})-d*2^{1/3}(R+2^{1/3})(R-2^{1/3}}{dR^2+aR+b}=\frac{(R-2^{1/3})(aR+b-d*2^{1/3}(R+2^{1/3})}{dR^2+aR+b}$, so dividing by $R-2^{1/3}$ gives the above centered equation.