olymmath

Putnam 2013 A5

  • Session A

For m≥3m \geq 3, a list of (m3)\binom{m}{3} real numbers aijka_{ijk} (1≤i<<j<k≤m1 \leq i < < j < k \leq m) is said to be area definite for Rn\mathbb{R}^n if the inequality ∑1≤i<j<k≤maijk⋅Area(ΔAiAjAk)≥0\sum_{1 \leq i < j < k \leq m} a_{ijk} \cdot \mathrm{Area}(\Delta A_i A_j A_k) \geq 0 holds for every choice of mm points A1,…,AmA_1,\dots,A_m in Rn\mathbb{R}^n. For example, the list of four numbers a123=a124=a134=1a_{123} = a_{124} = a_{134} = 1, a234=−1a_{234} = -1 is area definite for R2\mathbb{R}^2. Prove that if a list of (m3)\binom{m}{3} numbers is area definite for R2\mathbb{R}^2, then it is area definite for R3\mathbb{R}^3.

Curated text Kedlaya Putnam archive. Quoted with source.

Solutions

Human solution Solution 1 by Kiran Kedlaya and Lenny Ng

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