Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 180 of 300 #1580 of 1964

Problem 1580

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Algebra Difficulty 7.4 Prove it

Given the functions F(x)=ax2+bx+cF(x)=a x^{2}+b x+c and G(x)=cx2+bx+aG(x)=c x^{2}+b x+a, where ∣F(0)∣⩽1,∣F(1)∣⩽1,∣F(−1)∣⩽1|F(0)| \leqslant 1,|F(1)| \leqslant 1,|F(-1)| \leqslant 1, prove that for ∣x∣⩽1|x| \leqslant 1, we have ∣F(x)∣⩽54,∣G(x)∣⩽2|F(x)| \leqslant \frac{5}{4},|G(x)| \leqslant 2. (26th IMO Shortlist)

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

Prove (1) F(0)=c,F(−1)=a−b+c,F(1)=a−b+cF(0)=c, F(-1)=a-b+c, F(1)=a-b+c, so
F(x)=x(x−1)2F(−1)−(x2−1)F(0)+x(x+1)2F(1),F(x)=\frac{x(x-1)}{2} F(-1)-\left(x^{2}-1\right) F(0)+\frac{x(x+1)}{2} F(1),

Hence 2∣F(x)∣=∣x(x−1)∣⋅∣F(−1)∣+2∣x2−1∣⋅∣F(0)∣2|F(x)|=|x(x-1)| \cdot|F(-1)|+2\left|x^{2}-1\right| \cdot|F(0)|
+∣x(x+1)∣⋅∣F(1)∣⩽∣x(x−1)∣+2∣x2−1∣+∣x(x+1)∣\begin{aligned} & +|x(x+1)| \cdot|F(1)| \\ \leqslant & |x(x-1)|+2\left|x^{2}-1\right|+|x(x+1)| \end{aligned}

For ∣x∣⩽1|x| \leqslant 1, we have 0⩽1+x⩽2,0⩽1−x⩽2,0⩽1−x2⩽10 \leqslant 1+x \leqslant 2,0 \leqslant 1-x \leqslant 2,0 \leqslant 1-x^{2} \leqslant 1, thus
2∣F(x)∣⩽∣x∣(1−x)+2∣x2−1∣+∣x∣(1+x)=2(∣x∣+1−∣x∣2)2|F(x)| \leqslant|x|(1-x)+2\left|x^{2}-1\right|+|x|(1+x)=2\left(|x|+1-|x|^{2}\right)

That is ∣F(x)∣⩽∣x∣+1−∣x∣2=−(∣x∣−12)2+54⩽54|F(x)| \leqslant|x|+1-|x|^{2}=-\left(|x|-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}+\frac{5}{4} \leqslant \frac{5}{4}.
(2) By the given conditions ∣F(0)∣=∣c∣⩽1,∣F(−1)∣=∣a−b+c∣⩽1|F(0)|=|c| \leqslant 1,|F(-1)|=|a-b+c| \leqslant 1, ∣F(1)∣=∣a+b+c∣⩽1|F(1)|=|a+b+c| \leqslant 1, since
cx2+bx+a=c(x2−1)+(a+b+c)⋅1+x2+(a−b+c)⋅1−x2c x^{2}+b x+a=c\left(x^{2}-1\right)+(a+b+c) \cdot \frac{1+x}{2}+(a-b+c) \cdot \frac{1-x}{2}

Therefore, for any ∣x∣⩽1|x| \leqslant 1 we have
∣cx2+bx+a∣=∣c∣⋅∣(x2−1)∣+∣a+b+c∣⋅∣1+x2∣+∣a−b+c∣⋅∣1−x2∣⩽∣(x2−1)∣+∣1+x2∣+∣1−x2∣⩽(1−x2)+1+x2+1−x2=2−x2⩽2\begin{aligned} \left|c x^{2}+b x+a\right|= & |c| \cdot\left|\left(x^{2}-1\right)\right|+|a+b+c| \cdot\left|\frac{1+x}{2}\right| \\ & \left.+|a-b+c| \cdot \left|\frac{1-x}{2}\right| \right. \\ \leqslant & \left|\left(x^{2}-1\right)\right|+\left|\frac{1+x}{2}\right|+\left|\frac{1-x}{2}\right| \\ \leqslant & \left(1-x^{2}\right)+\frac{1+x}{2}+\frac{1-x}{2} \\ = & 2-x^{2} \leqslant 2 \end{aligned}

That is ∣G(x)∣⩽2|G(x)| \leqslant 2.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.