Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 221 of 400 #821 of 1964

Problem 821

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.4 Prove it

Let ∣z∣⩽1,∣w∣⩽1,z,w∈C|z| \leqslant 1,|w| \leqslant 1, z, w \in \mathbf{C}, prove:
∣z+w∣⩽∣1+zˉw∣. |z+w| \leqslant|1+\bar{z} w| .

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 that because ∣1+zˉw∣2−∣z+w∣2|1+\bar{z} w|^{2}-|z+w|^{2}
=(1+zˉw)(1+zwˉ)−(z+w)(zˉ+wˉ)=1+∣zˉ∣2∣w∣2−∣z∣2−∣w∣2=(1−∣zˉ∣2)(1−∣w∣2). \begin{array}{l} =(1+\bar{z} w)(1+z \bar{w})-(z+w)(\bar{z}+\bar{w}) \\ =1+|\bar{z}|^{2}|w|^{2}-|z|^{2}-|w|^{2} \\ =\left(1-|\bar{z}|^{2}\right)\left(1-|w|^{2}\right) . \end{array}

Also, because
∣z∣⩽1,∣w∣⩽1, |z| \leqslant 1,|w| \leqslant 1,

we have
(1−∣z∣2)(1−∣w∣2)⩾0.  \left(1-|z|^{2}\right)\left(1-|w|^{2}\right) \geqslant 0 \text {. }

Therefore,
∣1+zˉw∣⩾∣z+w∣.  |1+\bar{z} w| \geqslant|z+w| \text {. }

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