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Problem Books in Mathematics
Hayk Sedrakyan
Nairi Sedrakyan
Geometric
Inequalities
Methods of Proving
Contents
1 Theorem on the Length of the Broken Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.1 Triangle Inequality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Problems for Self-Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
1.2 Theorem on the Length of the Broken Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2 Application of Projection Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
2.1 Convex Polygon Lying Inside of Another Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
2.2 Sufficient Conditions for Comparison of Lengths
of Two Broken Lines on the Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2.3 Inscribed Polygons with the Least Perimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
2.4 Method of Projections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
3 Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3.1 Inequalities with Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
ix
x Contents
4 Application of Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

4.1 Application of Vectors for Proving Geometric
and Trigonometric Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
5 Application of Trigonometric Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
5.1 Inequalities for the Angles of a Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
5.2 Inequalities for the Angles of Acute
and Obtuse Triangles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
5.3 Some Relations for a Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
5.4 Trigonometric Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
5.5 Using Trigonometric Inequalities for Proving
Geometric Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
6 Inequalities for Radiuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
6.1 Inequalities for Radiuses of Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
6.2 Integer Lattice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
7 Miscellaneous Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
7.1 Miscellaneous Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
7.2 Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.3 Problems for Self-Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
8 Some Applications of Geometric Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
8.1 Application of Geometric Inequalities
for Solving Geometric problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Contents xi
8.2 Using Geometric Inequalities for Proving

Algebraic Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430
Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
Basic Notations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Chapter 1
Theorem on the Length of the Broken Line
This chapter consists of two sections. Section 1.1 is devoted to the applications of
one of the most important geometric inequalities, called the triangle inequality.
As a generalization of triangle inequality, Section 1.2 is devoted to the theorem
on the length of the broken line.
Let us recall the triangle inequality: for any triangle, the sum of the lengths of
any two sides is greater than or equal to the length of the remaining side. In other
words, if A, B, C are arbitrary points, then AB AC þ BC. Moreover, the equality
holds true, if and only if point C is on segment AB.
The goal of Section 1.1 is to get the reader acquainted with the triangle
inequality.
This section consists of problems that can be proved by using, if necessary
several times, the triangle inequality.
In Section 1.1 selected problems are those that can be proved using the following
techniques and statements:
1. For any convex quadrilateral ABCD it holds true AC þ BD > AB þ CD.
2. For any triangle with side lengths a, b, c and a median ma drawn to the side with
length a it holds true ma < bþc
2 .
3. If M is an arbitrary point inside of triangle ABC, then MA þ MB < CA þ CB.
4. For any points A, B, C, D it holds true AC BD AB CD þ BC AD.
In some problems, the triangle inequality is not always applied directly. In some
cases, at first one needs to do some geometric constructions or translations and only
after that apply the triangle inequality.
In Section 1.2, selected problems are those that can be proved using the theorem
on the length of the broken line, that is: if A1, A2, . . . , An are arbitrary n points, then
A1An A1A2 þ A2A3 þ . . . þ An 1An. Moreover, the equality holds true if and
only if point Ai is on the segment Ai 1Ai þ 1, for i ¼ 2, 3, . . . , n 1.
Some problems in this chapter were inspired by [7]. Nevertheless, even for these
problems the authors have mostly provided their own solutions.
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 1

H. Sedrakyan, N. Sedrakyan, Geometric Inequalities, Problem Books
in Mathematics, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-55080-0_1
2 1 Theorem on the Length of the Broken Line
1.1 Triangle Inequality
1.1.1. Consider a triangle ABC. Prove that

(a) ∠C < ∠ A, if AB < BC,
(b) AB < BC, if ∠C < ∠ A,
(c) AB < BC þ AC,
(d) the length of any side of the triangle is less than its semiperimeter.
1.1.2. Let A, B and C be arbitrary points. Prove that AC |AB BC|.
1.1.3. Given a convex quadrilateral ABCD and a point M on a plane. Prove that
(a) MA þ MB þ MC þ MD AC þ BD,
(b) MA < MB þ MC þ MD, if AB ¼ CD,
(c) MA < MB þ MC þ MD, if AC ¼ BD.
1.1.4. (a) Prove that in a convex quadrilateral the sum of its diagonals is greater than
its semiperimeter and is smaller than its perimeter.
(b) Let ABCD be a convex quadrilateral such that AB þ BD is not greater than
AC þ CD. Prove that the length of side AB is less than the length of diagonal AC.
(c) Prove that, if we connect the middle of all the adjacent sides of a convex polygon
A1A2 . . . An, then the perimeter of the obtained polygon is not less than the half
of the perimeter of the polygon A1A2 . . . An.
1.1.5. Let n>4 be an integer. For a convex n-gon A1A2...An consider the quadri-
laterals AiAiþ1Aiþ2Aiþ3, i¼1,2,...,n, where Anþj¼Aj. Prove that from those quad-
rilaterals no more than n/2 have an inscirbed circle. Give an example of an octagon
that has such 4 quadrilaterals.
1.1.6. Let ABCD be an inscribed quadrilateral. Prove that
(a) |AB CD| þ |AD BC| 2| AC BD|,
(b) AB þ BD AC þ CD, if ∠A ∠ D.
(c) Prove that among all triangles inscribed in a given circle, the largest perimeter
has the equilateral triangle.
1.1.7. Prove that
(a) bþca
2 < ma < bþc
2 ,
(b) 4 ða þ b þ cÞ < ma þ mb þ mc < a þ b þ c, where ma, mb, mc are the lengths of
3
the medians drawn from vertices A, B, C and a, b, c are, respectively, the lengths
of sides BC, CA, AB of triangle ABC.
1.1.8. Let M be a point inside of triangle ABC. Prove that
(a) MA þ MB < CA þ CB,
(b) min(MA, MB, MC) þ MA þ MB þ MC < ma þ mb þ mc,
(c) MA þ MB þ MC max (AB þ BC, AC þ BC, AC þ AB),
pffiffi
(d) MA þ MB þ MC 23 minðAB þ BC; AC þ BC; AC þ ABÞ.
1.1 Triangle Inequality 3
1.1.9. (a) Let ABCD be a quadrilateral and E,F be the midpoints of sides AB, CD,
respectively. Prove that EF BCþAD
2 .
(b) Let M be the intersection point of medians AD and BE of triangle ABC. Prove
that, if ∠AMB π/2, then AC þ BC > 3AB.
(c) Let C1, A1 be points (different from the vertices) on sides AB, BC of triangle
ABC. Let K be the midpoint of A1C1 and I be the in center of triangle ABC.
Given that A1BC1I is an inscribed quadrilateral. Prove that AKC is an obtuse
angle.
1.1.10. Let ABCD be a quadrilateral such that angles A and C are equal to 90 . Prove
that the perimeter of the inscribed quadrilateral in the quadrilateral ABCD is not
smaller than 2AC.
1.1.11. Let M be a point inside of an equilateral triangle ABC. Prove that
(a) MA þ MB > MC ,
(b) MA2 þ MB2 þ MC2 < 2 AB2.
1.1.12. Let E be a point on side AC of triangle ABC. Prove that
(a) BE AC AE BC þ CE AB,
(b) (EB BA) AC (BC AB) AE.
1.1.13. Let D be a point on side BC of triangle ABC such that AD > BC. Let point
E on side AC be defined by the following condition EC AE
¼ ADBC
BD
. Prove that
AD > BE.
1.1.14. (a) Prove that for any distinct points A, B, C and D it holds true AC BD
AB CD þ BC AD.
(b) Let a square with the center O be externally constructed on the side AB of
triangle ABC. Let M, N be the midpoints of sides BC, AC and the lengths of
these sides be equal to a, b, respectively. Find the possible greatest value of the
sum OM þ ON when angle ∠ACB changes.
OAþOC
(c) Given a rectangle ABCD on a plane. Find the smallest value of OBþOD , where
O is an arbitrary point in that plane.
(d) Prove that for any points A, B, C and D it holds true
AB þ BC þ AC 2AD sin ∠ BDC.
(e) Let D, E, F be points on sides BC, CA, AB of triangle ABC, respectively. Prove
that

1 1 1 AB þ BC þ AC
þ þ ðDE þ EF þ FDÞ ,
AD BE CF R
where R is the circumradius of triangle ABC.

(f) Given a triangle ABC and points D, E, F , such that ∠DBC ¼ ∠ ECA ¼ ∠ FAB > 0
and ∠DCB ¼ ∠ EAC ¼ ∠ FBA > 0.
Prove that AFþFBþBDþDCþCEþEA ADþBEþCF.

(g) Given a point M and a parallelogram ABCD.
Prove that MA MC þ MB MD AB AD.
(h) Prove that for any distinct points A, B, C and D it holds true
DA DB AB þ DB DC BC þ DC DA AC AB BC AC.
(i) Let ABCDA1B1C1D1 be a parallelepiped.
Prove that AB1 þ AD1 þ AC < AA1 þ AB þ AD þ AC1.
(j) Let SABC be a tetrahedron. Prove that
AB
SAþSB þ SBþSC
BC
> SAþSC
AC
:
(k) Let SABC be a tetrahedron. Prove that SA þ SB þ SC > 3 min (MA, MB, MC),
where M is the intersection point of the medians of triangle ABC.
1.1.15. For any point T of a given triangle (the interior of the triangle included)
denote by m(T) the smallest of segments TA, TB, TC. Find all points of triangle
ABC, such that the value of m(T ) is the greatest possible.
1.1.16. Let A1, A2, . . . , A8 be the vertices of a parallelepiped and O be its center of

symmetry. Prove that 4 OA21 þ OA22 þ ::: þ OA28 < ðOA1 þ OA2 þ ::: þ OA8 Þ2 .
1.1.17. Let G be the intersection point of the medians of triangle ABC. Prove that
(a) if AB > AC, then AC þ BG < AB þ CG,
(b) OG < 13 ðOA þ OB þ OCÞ, where O is an arbitrary.
1.1.18. Let O be a point in the hexagon A1A2A3A4A5A6, such that all its sides are
visible under the angle of 60 . Prove that, if OA1 > OA3 > OA5 and OA2 > OA4 >
OA6, then A1A2 þ A3A4 þ A5A6 < A2A3 þ A4A5 þ A6A1.
1.1.19. Given n distinct points. Prove that among those points there are points A, B,
C, such that 1 AC
AB
< 1 þ 2n, if (a) n ¼ 3, (b) n 5.
1.1.20. Given n (n 3) distinct points with the pairwise distances between them
equal to a1 , a2 , :::, anðn1Þ . Given that λn > 0 and λn1
n þ λn2
n ¼ 1. Prove that there
2
exist numbers i and j (i 6¼ j), such that 1 aaij λ1n . For n ¼ 4, prove that the estimate
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
pffiffiffiffiffi qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
pffiffiffiffiffi
¼ þ 18 ¼ 1, 32471795:::: is not possible to make smaller.
1 3 9 69 3 9þ 69
λ4 18
1.1.21. Given n (n 3) distinct points with the pairwise distances between them
equal to a1 , a2 , :::, anðn1Þ , where a1 a2 ::: anðn1Þ : Given that δn > 0 and δn
2 2
nðn1Þ
ð 1 þ δn Þ 2 1
> 2: Prove that there exist numbers i and j(i 6¼ j), such that
ai
aj 1 < δn :
1.1.22. Let M, N be distinct points on side BC of triangle ABC, such that

∠MAN
∠BAM ¼ ∠ CAN. Prove that pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi 2 < sin
MNBC
sin ∠BAC < pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi 2 :
MNBC
ð BMCNþ BNCMÞ ð BMCN BNCMÞ
Solutions
1.1.1. (a) Let D be a point on side BC, such that AB ¼ BD. Then, we have that
∠A > ∠ BAD ¼ ∠ BDA ¼ ∠ C þ ∠ DAC > ∠ C. Therefore ∠A > ∠ C.
(b) Proof by contradiction argument. Assume that AB BC. If AB ¼ BC, then
∠C ¼ ∠ A. This leads to a contradiction. If AB > BC, then according to prob-
lem 1.1.1а we have that ∠C > ∠ A. This leads to a contradiction.
(c) Let D be a point on line AC, such that point C belongs to segment AD and
CD ¼ BC. Hence, as ∠ABD ¼ ∠ B þ ∠ CBD > ∠ CBD ¼ ∠ BDC, then for
triangle ABD, according to problem 1.1.1b, we obtain that AB < AD. Thus, it
follows that AB < AC þ BC.
2 , where p ¼
(d) We have that p a ¼ bþca 2 . Therefore, p > a.
aþbþc
1.1.2. Note that AC AB BC AC. Hence, |AB BC| AC.

1.1.3. (a) As MA þ MC AC and MB þ MD BD, then MA þ MC þ MB þ
MD AC þ BD.
(b) We have that MA MB þ AB ¼ MB þ CD MB þ MC þ MD. Note that the
equality MA ¼ MB þ MC þ MD cannot hold true. Otherwise, M belongs to
segment CD, then MA < MB þ AB.
(c) We have that MA MC þ AC ¼ MC þ BD MC þ MB þ MD. It is clear that
the following equalities MA ¼ MC þ AC and BD ¼ MB þ MD simultaneously
cannot hold true. Therefore, MA < MC þ MB þ MD.
1.1.4. (a) Let M be the intersection point of the diagonals of the given convex
quadrilateral ABCD. Then, using the triangle inequality, we obtain that
MA þ MB > AB, MB þ MC > BC, MC þ MD > CD, MA þ MD > AD.
Summing up these inequalities, we deduce that AC þ BD > 12 ðAB þ BCþ
CD þ ADÞ.
From AC < AB þ BC and AC < AD þ DC, it follows that AC < 12 ðAB þ BCþ
CD þ ADÞ. Therefore, AC þ BD < AB þ BC þ CD þ AD.
Remark We have that AC þ BD ¼ (MA þ MB) þ (MC þ MD) > AB þ CD.
(b) We have that AB þ BD AC þ CD and AB þ CD < AC þ BD. Therefore, 2AB þ
CD þ BD < 2AC þ CD þ BD or AB < AC.
(c) Let B1, B2, . . . , Bn be the midpoints of sides A1A2, A2A3, . . . , AnA1, respec-
tively (Figure 1.1).
Figure 1.1
Then, for n 4, we have that
2B1 B2 þ 2B2 B3 þ ::: þ 2Bn B1 ¼ A1 A3 þ A2 A4 þ A3 A5 þ ::: þ An A2 ¼

1
¼ ððA1 A3 þ A2 A4 Þ þ ðA2 A4 þ A3 A5 Þ þ ::: þ ðAn A2 þ A1 A3 ÞÞ >
2
1
> ððA1 A2 þ A3 A4 Þ þ ::: þ ðAn A1 þ A2 A3 ÞÞ ¼ A1 A2 þ A2 A3 þ ::: þ An A1
2
(according to the remark in problem 1.1.4a). Hence, it follows that B1 B2 þ B2 B3

þ::: þ Bn B1 > 12 ðA1 A2 þ A2 A3 þ ::: þ An A1 Þ: For n ¼ 3
1
B1 B2 þ B2 B3 þ ::: þ Bn B1 ¼ ðA1 A2 þ A2 A3 þ ::: þ An A1 Þ:
2
1.1.5. If it would be possible to cut off more than n2 circumscribed quadrilaterals,

then among them there would be two neighboring quadrilaterals having two
common sides. Let us denote these quadrilaterals by ABCD and BCDE (Figure 1.2).
For any of them the sum of the opposite side is equal to AB þ CD ¼ BC þ AD,
BC þ DE ¼ CD þ BE.
Hence, we obtain that
AB þ DE ¼ AD þ BE: ð1:1Þ
The initial n-gon is convex; therefore its diagonals AD and BE intersect at some
point P. According to the triangle inequality AD þ BE ¼ AP þ BP þ PD þ
PE > AB þ DE. This leads to the contradiction with (1.1).
In order to construct the required octagon, let us circumscribe an isosceles
trapezoid A1A2A3A4 around the circle, such that its base is A1A4 and the base
angle is equal to 45 . Then, construct it up to octagon A1A2 . . . A8, as it is shown
in Figure 1.3.
way, one can construct n-gon, such that it is possible to cut off by its
In a similar
diagonals n2 circumscribed quadrilaterals.
1.1.6. (a) Let M be the intersection point of diagonals AC and BD of a quadrilateral
ABCD. Note that ΔABM ~ ΔDCM. Therefore,
Figure 1.2
Figure 1.3

AC BD ¼ AM þ MC BM DM ¼ AM þ BM CD BM AM CD ¼
AB AB

AM BM
¼ AB CD AB CD
AB
(see problem 1.1.2). In a similar way, we obtain that |AC BD| |AD BC|, thus
|AB CD| þ |AD BC| 2|AC BD|.
In the last inequality the equality holds true if and only if quadrilateral ABCD is a
rectangle.
(b) Note that ∠MAD ∠ MDA. Therefore, MD MA. As CD AB ¼ MB ¼ MA ¼ k 1
CM DM
(see the proof of problem 1.1.6а), then AC þ CD AB BD ¼ (k 1)

(AB þ BM AM) 0.
(c) Let an irregular triangle ABC be inscribed in the given circle, such that
∠A ∠ B ∠ C. Note that ∠A > 60 > ∠ C.
Let D be a point on arc ABC, such that ∠DAC ¼ 60 . As ∠A > ∠ A þ
∠ C 60 ¼ ∠ ACD, then according to problem 1.1.6b (see the proof), AB þ BC þ
AC < AD þ DC þ AC.
If triangle ADC is equilateral, then this ends the proof. Otherwise, if triangle
ADC is irregular, then repeating the above proof for triangle ADC, we obtain that its
perimeter is smaller than the perimeter of the equilateral triangle inscribed in the
given circle. Therefore, in this case also the perimeter of triangle ABC is smaller
than the perimeter of the equilateral triangle inscribed into the given circle.
Other proofs of this problem one can obtain using problems 5.1.6 and 8.2.1i.
1.1.7. (a) Consider Figure 1.4.
We have that 2ma < b þ c, thus ma < bþc
2 . Let c b, then ma þ 2 > c 2 .
a cþb
Hence, it follows that ma > 2 .

cþba
(b) We have that ma < bþc 2 , mb < 2 and mc < 2 , thus ma þ mb þ mc < a þ b þ c.
aþc aþb
Note that 23 ma þ 23 mc > b. In a similar way, we obtain that 23 ma þ 23 mb > c and

3 mc þ 3 mb > a. Summing up these inequalities, we deduce that ma þ mb þ
2 2
mc > 34 ða þ b þ cÞ.
Figure 1.4
Figure 1.5
Figure 1.6
1.1.8. (a) Let N be the intersection point of lines AM and BC; then AM þ BM <
AM þ MN þ BN ¼ AN þ NB < AC þ CN þ BN ¼ AC þ BC.
Therefore, AM þ BM < AC þ BC.
(b) Let M be a point inside of triangle AGB1 (Figure 1.5), where G is the intersection
point of the medians of triangle ABC.
Using the result of problem 1.1.8а, we obtain that AM þ BM b2 þ mb and
AM þ MC 23 ma þ 23 mc . Therefore,
minðAM; BM; CMÞ þ AM þ BM þ CM 2AM þ BM þ CM

b 2 2 ma mc 2 2
þ mb þ ma þ mc < þ þ mb þ ma þ mc ¼ mb þ ma þ mc :
2 3 3 3 3 3 3
We obtain that min(AM, BM, CM) þ AM þ BM þ CM < mb þ ma þ mc.

Remark If the triangle is not obtuse, then taking the point M in the center of the
circumcircle of triangle ABC, we obtain that ma þ mb þ mc > 4R, where R is the
circumradius of triangle ABC.
(c) Let us draw through point M segments parallel to AB, AC and BC (Figure 1.6).
Let AB AC BC. Since triangles C2MC1, MB1B2, MA1A2 are similar to

triangle ABC, then the smallest sides of these triangles are C1C2, MB1 and MA2,
respectively. We have that
MA þ MB þ MC < ðAB1 þ B1 MÞ þ ðMA2 þ A2 BÞ þ ðMA1 þ A1 CÞ

AB1 þ B1 B2 þ A1 A2 þ A2 B þ CB2 þ A1 C ¼ AC þ BC:
Hence, it follows that MA þ MB þ MC < AC þ BC.

One can easily prove that the inequality holds true if M belongs to one of the
sides of the triangle.
(d) Let us consider two cases.
Case 1 Let there be a point M0 inside of the triangle, such that ∠AM0B ¼
∠ BM0C ¼ ∠ AM0C ¼ 120 . Then, prove that AM þ BM þ CM AM0 þ
BM0 þ CM0.
Consider an equilateral triangle BCA1 constructed externally on the side BC of
triangle ABC. We have that ∠BM0C þ ∠ BA1C ¼ 120 þ 60 ¼ 180 . Hence,
M0BA1C is an inscribed quadrilateral. Thus, it follows that M0A1 ¼ M0B þ M0C
(see the proof of problem 1.1.14а) and ∠AM0A1 ¼ ∠ AM0B þ ∠ BM0A1 ¼
120 þ ∠ BCA1 ¼ 180 . Hence, AM0 þ BM0 þ CM0 ¼ AM0 þ M0A1 ¼ AA1.
According to problem 1.1.14а, we have that MB þ MC MA1. Therefore, we
deduce that MA þ MB þ MC MA þ MA1 AA1 ¼ AM0 þ BM0 þ CM0.
pffiffi
Now, let us prove that AM0 þ BM0 þ CM0 23 minðAB þ BC; ABþ
AC; BC þ ACÞ. Let max(∠A, ∠B, ∠C) ¼ ∠ C. Note that ∠AM0B > ∠ C. Hence,
60 ∠ C < 120 . Thus, it follows that 120 ∠ ACA1 < 180 . Therefore,
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
AA1 ¼ AC2 þ BC2 2AC BC p cos ffiffiffi ∠ACA1
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi 3
AC2 þ BC2 þ AC BC ðAC þ BCÞ:
2
Case 2 If there does not exist such point M0 (see Case 1), then one can easily prove
that ∠C 120 .
Note that either ∠MCB < 120 or ∠MCA < 120 . Without loss of generality one
can assume that ∠MCB < 120 ; then according to problem 1.1.8а, MA þ MA1
AC þ CA1. Therefore, MA þ MB þ MC MA þ MA1 AC þ BC.
This ends the proof.
1.1.9. (a) Let us denote by K the midpoint of diagonal BD. We have that
EF EK þ KF ¼ AD 2 þ 2 , and the equality holds true if and only if K belongs to
BC
the segment EF, that is AD||BC.

(b) Note that point M cannot be inside of the circle with diameter AB. Hence,
MO AB 2 , where O is the midpoint of segment AB. According to problem
4 þ 4 > 3 2 . Thus, it follows that AC þ BC > 3 AB.
1.1.9a, we have that AC BC MO
Figure 1.7
Figure 1.8
(c) Let O be the midpoint of segment AC. Note that AC ¼ AC1 þ CA1. According to
problem 1.1.9а, we have that OК AC1 þCA
2
1
¼ AC
2 . Therefore, AKC is an obtuse
angle.
1.1.10. Let a quadrilateral MNPK be inscribed in a quadrilateral ABCD (Figure 1.7).
Let E and F be the midpoints of segments KM and NP, respectively. Since
AE ¼ KM 2 , EF
MNþKP
2 (see problem 1.1.9а) and CF ¼ NP 2 , then
MNþNPþKPþKM
2
AE þ EF þ CF AF þ CF AC. Thus, it follows that MN þ NP þ KP þ
KM 2AC.
Remark If ∠A 90 , ∠ C 90 , then MN þ NP þ KP þ KM 2AC.
1.1.11. (a) Let us consider the Figure 1.8.
Consider segments MA1, MB1, MC1, such that MA1||AB, MB1||BC and MC1||AC.
One can easily prove that AC1MB1, BA1MC1 and CA1MB1 are isosceles trapezoids.
Therefore, MA ¼ C1B1, MB ¼ A1C1 and MC ¼ A1B1. Hence, MA þ MB > MC .
(b) Let MA1 ¼ x, MB1 ¼ y, MC1 ¼ z, AB ¼ a (Figure 1.8). Therefore, x þ y þ z ¼ a
and
Figure 1.9
MA2 þ MB2 þ MC2 ¼ zða xÞ þ y2 þ xða yÞ þ z2 þ yða zÞ þ x2 ¼

¼ a2 þ x2 þ y2 þ z2 zx xy yz < a2 þ ðx þ y þ zÞ2 ¼ 2a2 :
1.1.12. (a) If point E coincides with points A and C, then

AB EC þ BC AE ¼ BE AC.
If point E does not coincide with points A and C, then consider the following
figures (Figure 1.9а, b), where MP ¼ AE EC, NP ¼ BE EC, MN ¼ AB EC,
PK ¼ EB AE, MK ¼ BC AE.
We have that MN þ MK > NK or AB EC þ BC AE > AC BE.
(b) Note that the inequality of problem 1.1.12b is equivalent to the inequality of
problem 1.1.12a.
1.1.13. We have that
AE AD ¼ BD EC þ AE BC: ð1:2Þ
From problem 1.1.12а, it follows that AC BE < AE BC þ AB EC. From the

condition of the problem, it follows that point E does not coincide with points
A and C.
Let AD BE, then AC AD AC BE < AE BC þ AB EC. Using (1.2), we
obtain that AC AD ¼ AD AE þ AD EC ¼ BD EC þ AE BC þ AD EC. There-
fore, EC(BD þ AD AB) < 0. This leads to a contradiction. Hence, AD > BE.
1.1.14. (a) Let us take a point A1 on a ray DA, such that DA1 ¼ DA
1
. In a similar way,
take points B1 and C1 on the rays DB and DC. One can easily prove that
A1 B1 ¼ DADB
AB
, B1 C1 ¼ DBDC
BC
and C1 A1 ¼ DCDA
CA
. We have that A1B1 þ B1C1 A1C1.
Thus, AB DC þ BC DA AC BD (see problem 4.1.9).
(b) According to problem 1.1.14а, for points A, N, K, O we have that
pffiffi
NO AK AO NK þ AN OK or NO b2 þ 22 a, where K is the midpoint of
pffiffi
side AB. In a similar way, we obtain that МО a2 þ 22 b. Hence, it follows
pffiffi
that МО þ NO 22þ1 ða þ bÞ. The equality holds true if only ∠ANO ¼
∠ CMO ¼ 90 , that is ∠C ¼ ∠ A þ ∠ B þ 90 . Therefore ∠C ¼ 135 .
(c) According to problem 1.1.14a, for points A, B, C, O we have that
AC BO AB CO þ BC AO . In a similar way, for points A, D, C, O we
have that AC DO AD CO þ AO CD. Summing up these inequalities, we
AOþCO
obtain that BOþDO ABþADAC
. Taking O A, we obtain that the left-hand side of
AC
the last inequality is equal to ABþAD . Thus, the possible smallest value is equal
AC
to ABþAD.
OAþOC
Remark One can prove that OBþOD ABþBC
BD .
(d) If points B, C, D are on one line, then sin ∠ BDC ¼ 0; therefore AB þ BC þ

AC 2AD sin ∠ BDC.
If points B, C, D are not on one line and point O is the circumcenter of triangle
BCD, then, according to problem 1.1.14а, for points A, B, O, C we have that
AB OC þ AC OB AO BC:
Hence,
AB OC þ AC OB þ BC OD BCðAO þ ODÞ: ð1:3Þ
We have that AO þ OD AD and OC ¼ OB ¼ OD. Thus from (1.3) we obtain

that
BC
AB þ AC þ BC AD ¼ 2AD sin ∠BDC:
OD
(e) According to problem 1.1.14d, we obtain that EDþDFþFE

AD 2 sin ∠A ¼ BCR ; in a
similar way we obtain that EDþDFþFE
AC
and EDþDFþFE
AB
. Summing up
1
BE R CF R
these inequalities, we deduce that AD þ BE þ CF ðED þ DF þ EFÞ
1 1 ABþBCþAC
R .
(f) Let BC ¼ mx, BD ¼ nx, DC ¼ kx, AC ¼ my, CE ¼ ny, AE ¼ ky, AB ¼ mz, AF ¼ nz,
FB ¼ kz.
According to problem 1.1.14а, for points A, B, D, C, we have that
AB DC þ AC DB AD BC or kz þ ny AD; that is, FB þ CE AD. In a similar
way we obtain that BD þ AE CF and AF þ DC BE. Summing up these inequal-
ities, we deduce that AF þ FB þ BD þ DC þ CE þ EA AD þ BE þ CF.
! !
(g) Consider a point M0 , such that MM0 ¼ AD . For points M, C, M0 , D, according to
problem 1.1.14a, we have that MC M0 D þ CM0 MD CD MM0 .
As M0 D ¼ AM, CM0 ¼ BM, MM0 ¼ AD, then MA MC þ MB MD AB AD.
! !
(h) Consider a point A0 , such that BA0 ¼ AC .
According to problem 1.1.14g, we have that

AD DA0 þ BD DC AB AC; thus it follows that
AD BC DA0 þ BD DC BC AB AC BC: ð1:4Þ
According to problem 1.1.14a, we have that
BD CA0 þ CD BA0 BC DA0 :
Thus, we deduce that
BD AD AB þ CD AD AC BC DA0 AD: ð1:5Þ
Summing up inequalities (1.4) and (1.5), we obtain that
DA DB AB þ DB DC BC þ DC DA AC AB BC AC:
(i) For points A, A1, B1, C1 according to problem 1.1.14a, we have that
AB1 A1 C1 < AA1 B1 C1 þ A1 B1 AC1 ¼ AA1 AD þ AB AC1
(see the proof of problem 1.1.14а).

Therefore,
AB1 AC < AA1 AD þ AB AC1 : ð1:6Þ
In a similar way, for points A, D, D1, C1 and A, B, C, C1 we have that

AD1 DC1 < AD D1C1 þ AC1 DD1 and AC BC1 < AB CC1 þ AC1 BC, or
AD1 AB1 < AD AB þ AC1 AA1 , ð1:7Þ
and
AC AD1 < AB AA1 þ AC1 AD: ð1:8Þ
Let O, O1 be the intersection points of the diagonals of parallelograms ABCD

and A1B1C1D1, respectively. Let line AC1 intersect with segments A1O and CO1 at
points M and M1, respectively. Since AA1C1C is a parallelogram, then A1O1 ¼ OC
and A1O1||OC, thus quadrilateral A1O1CO is also a parallelogram. Therefore, A1O||
O1C. We have that A1O1 ¼ O1C1 and A1M||O1M1. Hence MM1 ¼ M1C1. In a similar
way, we obtain that AM ¼ MM1.
Note that ΔAOM ΔC1A1M, thus AMO 1M
¼ AAO
1 C1
¼ AO
AC
¼ 2. It follows that M is the
intersection point of the medians of triangle A1BD. In a similar way, we obtain that
M1 is the intersection point of the medians of triangle B1D1C.
According to Stewart’s theorem, we obtain that

1 2 2 2 1 2 AB2 þ AD2 BD2
AM ¼ AA1 þ AO A1 O ¼ AA1 þ
2 2 2 2

32 3 9
3 3 2 4
2 A1 B þ A1 D2 BD2 1 1
¼ AA1 2 þ AB2 þ AD2 A1 B2 þ A1 D2 þ BD2 :
9 2 4 3 9
In a similar way, we obtain that
1 1
AM1 2 ¼ AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 B1 D1 2 þ D1 C2 þ CB1 2 :
3 9
Therefore
1
AM1 2 AM2 ¼ AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 AB2 AD2 AA1 2
3
as BD ¼ B1D1, A1D ¼ B1C, A1B ¼ D1C.

Note that AM1 ¼ 23 AC1 , AM ¼ 13 AC1 . Hence,
AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 ¼ AB2 þ AD2 þ AA1 2 þ AC1 2 ;
from this equality and inequalities (1.6), (1.7), (1.8) we obtain that
AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 þ 2AB1 AC þ 2AD1 AB1 þ 2AC AD1 <

< AB2 þ AD2 þ AA1 2 þ AC1 2 þ 2AA1 AD þ 2AB AC1 þ 2AD ABþ
þ2AC1 AA1 þ 2AB AA1 þ 2AC1 AD,
or (AB1 þ AC þ AD1)2 < (AA1 þ AB þ AD þ AC1)2. Therefore,
AB1 þ AC þ AD1 < AA1 þ AB þ AD þ AC1 :
(j) Note that
AB BC AB2 BC2
þ ¼ þ
SA þ SB SB þ SC SA AB þ SB AB SB BC þ SC BC
ðAB þ BCÞ2
:
SA AB þ SC BC þ SBðAB þ BCÞ
It is sufficient to prove that
ðAB þ BCÞ2 ðSA þ SCÞ > SA AB AC þ SC BC AC þ SB ACðAB þ BCÞ

ðAB þ BCÞðAB SA þ BC SC þ AB SC þ BC SA SB ACÞ >
> ACðSA AB þ SC BCÞ,
ðAB þ BC ACÞðAB SA þ BC SCÞþ

þðAB þ BCÞðAB SC þ BC SA SB ACÞ > 0:
This holds true, as AB SC þ BC SA SB AC 0 (see problem 1.1.14а) and

AB þ BC > AC.
(k) Let us consider two cases.
Case 1 Assume that there exists a point M0 inside of the triangle ABC, such that
∠AM0B ¼ ∠ BM0C ¼ ∠ AM0C ¼ 120 . We have that SA þ SB þ SC > M0A þ
M0B þ M0C (see the solution of problem 1.1.8d). Let us prove that M0A þ M0B þ
M0C 3 min (MA, MB, MC).
Let M0A ¼ x, M0B ¼ y, M0C ¼ z (x y z), then 3 minðMA; MB; MCÞ ¼
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
x2 þ y2 þ 4z2 þ 2xz þ 2yz xy: Therefore,
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
xþyþz x2 þ y2 þ 4z2 þ 2xz þ 2yz xy:
Case 2 Assume that there does not exist such a point M0. Let max
(∠A, ∠B, ∠C) ¼ ∠ C. We have that (see the proof of problem 1.1.8d)
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
SA þ SB þ SC > AC þ BC > 2AC2 þ 2BC2 AB2 ¼ 3 minðMA; MB; MCÞ:
See also problem 7.1.107d.

1.1.15. Let ∠A ∠ B ∠ C.
If ∠A 90 , then the required point T is the circumcenter O of the triangle. Let
the radius of the circumcircle be equal to R; then m(O) ¼ R.
If point T does not coincide with point O, then it is in one of the triangles AOB,
AOC, BOC. Let point T is in triangle AOB; then mðT Þ TAþTB 2 < OAþOB
2 ¼ R (see
problem 1.1.8а).
If ∠A > 90 , then let us take on side BC points M and N, such that ∠BAM ¼ ∠ B
and ∠CAM ¼ ∠ C. Then ∠BAM ¼ ∠ B < ∠ BAN ¼ ∠ A ∠ C (Figure 1.10).
If T 2 ΔABM, then mðT Þ ATþBT 2 AMþBM
2 ¼ AM AN ¼ mðN Þ, as ∠AMN ¼
2 ∠ B ∠ ANB ¼ 2 ∠ C and BN ¼ BM þ MN ¼ AM þ MN > AN.
Figure 1.10
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of Age of anxiety
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Title: Age of anxiety
Author: Robert Silverberg
Illustrator: John Schoenherr
Release date: August 26, 2023 [eBook #71491]
Language: English
Original publication: New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc, 1957
Credits: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed

Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGE OF

ANXIETY ***
Age of Anxiety
By ROBERT SILVERBERG
Illustrated by SCHOENHERR
"Choose!" said the robonurse.

"Choose!" echoed his entire world.
But either choice was impossible!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from

Infinity June 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
That morning, when Larry awoke, the robonurse was standing at the
foot of his bed, smiling benignly. It made no attempt to help him into
his housecoat and give him his morning unworry capsule. Instead it
waited, poised delicately on its humming treads, making no motion
toward him.
"I'm awake," Larry said sourly. "Why aren't you functioning?" He
paused, frowning slightly, and added, "And where's my capsule?"
"This morning is different," said the robonurse. "This is your birthday,
young man!" It clicked twice, hissed, and rolled forward at last,
holding Larry's capsule-box in its grips. The box flew open as the
robot approached Larry's bed, and the boy saw, within its gleaming
interior, three capsules—one the usual light blue, the other two a
harsh green and a bright yellow respectively.
"What's this?"
"Choose," the robonurse said inexorably.
The trigger-word echoed in the room for an instant. "Choose," the
robot said again, and the repetition unlocked a chain of synapses,
unleashed data hypnotically buried in Larry's mind years before,
opened doors and brightened dark corridors.
Choose. The terrifying word held promise of conflict, pain, anxiety.
Larry's fingers quivered with terror for a moment; his hand hovered
over the capsule-box, wavered for a long second of indecision, while
a glistening bead of sweat rolled down his smooth face.
His hand grazed the light-blue capsule, the capsule that could end
the sudden nightmare forever. He fingered its glossy surface for a
moment, then shook his head and touched the bright yellow one. A
shudder of fear ran through him as he did so, and he swept up the
green capsule hurriedly and swallowed it.
"Okay. I've chosen," he said weakly.
The robonurse, still smiling, closed the capsule-box and rolled away.
It replaced the box on its shelf and said, "You've chosen, Larry—but
all you've chosen is postponement of final decision."
"I know." His voice was dry. "I—I'm not ready yet. But at least I took a
step forward. I didn't take the unworry drug."
"True enough," the robonurse said. "You can still go in either direction
—back to the unworry of childhood, or on to the full anxiety of adult
life."
"Let me think," Larry said. "That's why I took the middle capsule. To
think this out."
"Yes, let him think!" Larry glanced up and saw the stooped figure of
his father at the door of the bedroom. The robonurse scuttled away
hummingly, and Larry swung around in bed. His father's face, wrinkle-
etched, baggy-eyed, and despairing, stared intently at him.
The tired face broke into a feeble grin. "So you've arrived at the Age
of Anxiety at last, Larry! Welcome—welcome to adulthood!"
Behind Larry lay an entire seventeen-year lifetime of unworrying—

and behind that lay the three centuries since Koletsky's development
of the unworry drug.
It was tasteless, easily manufactured, inexpensive, and—despite its
marvelous properties—not permanently habit-forming. Adults under
the influence of the unworry drug found themselves free from anxiety,
from nagging doubts about the future, from any need to worry or grow
ulcers or to plan and think ahead. Koletsky's drug made them
completely irresponsible.
Naturally, the drug was highly popular among a certain group of
adults with low psychic resistance to panaceas of this sort, and for a
while the unworry drug was a considerable source of worry to those
still clear-eyed enough to look ahead. Hundreds of thousands of
people a year were yielding to the synthetic bliss of the unworry drug,
returning to childhood's uninvolvement with the world.
Naturally, one of the remaining worriers invented an anti-unworry drug
—and with that, a new social alignment came into being. The new
tablet provided gradual weaning from the unworry drug; it took four
years for the treatment to be completed, but once so treated a person
could never bring himself to touch the Koletsky drug to his lips again.
There was an inflexible guarantee against back-sliding built into the
bonded hydrocarbons of the drug.
This second discovery left the world in possession of two remarkable
phenomena: a soothing drug and its antidote, both of 100% efficiency.
A new solution now presented itself—a solution whose details were
simple and obvious.
Give the drug to children. Let them live in a carefree paradise of
unworry until the age of seventeen—at which time, apply the four-
year withdrawal treatment. At twenty-one, they were ready to step
into the adult world, unmarked by the horrors of childhood and
equipped to face maturity with a calm, if somewhat blank mind.
At the age of seventeen, then, a choice: forward or backward. One
out of every ten elected to remain in the synthetic dream-world
forever, thereby removing themselves from a world in which they
probably would not have been fit to contend. It was an efficient
screening process, eliminating those dreamers who would not have
withstood the grind, who would have retreated from reality anyway,
would have slipped into neurotic fancies. The remaining ninety per
cent chose maturity and reality—and anxiety.
The light-blue capsule was the way back to dreamland; the bright
yellow one, the first step in withdrawal. The third capsule was the one
most frequently chosen. It was a delayer; its effect, neither positive
nor negative, was to allow its taker's hormones to remain suspended
during the period of choice.
"I've got three days, don't I, Dad?" The terms of the situation,
implanted in each child's mind long before he could possibly
understand the meanings of the words, now stood out sharply in
Larry's mind.
Larry's father nodded. "You took the green one?"
"Yes. Was that wrong?"
"It's what I did when I was your age," the older man said. "It's the only
sensible thing to do. Yes, you have three days to make up your mind.
You can go on taking the unworry capsules for the rest of your life—or
you can begin withdrawing. You'll have to decide that for yourself."
Something fluttery throbbed in the pit of Larry's stomach. It was the
first sign of worry, the first agony of decision-making. He remained
calm; despite his lifelong use of Koletsky's drug, its peculiar
properties were such that he felt no need of it now.
Yet—how did he choose? In three days, how? Uneasily, he wiggled
his feet against the cool, yielding surface of the floor for a moment,
left the bed, crossed the room, threw open the door. Across the hall,
the robonurse was ministering to his younger brother. The sleepy-
eyed eight-year-old was sitting up in bed while the pseudomother
washed and dressed him.
Larry smiled. His brother's face was calm, relaxed, confident-looking.
"The lucky devil," he said out loud. "He's got nine years of happiness
left."
"You can have the rest of your lifetime, son."
Larry turned. His father's voice was flat, without any hint of emotion or
any trace of value-judgment.
"I know," Larry said. "One way—or the other."
Later that first day, he dressed and left the house. He crossed the
pedestrian-walk that led from his block to the next, feeling curiously
impermanent in his between-status status.
The pedestrian-walk was empty except for a wandering vendor
struggling along under a load of bubble-toys. Larry doubled his pace
and caught up with the man, a short, long-nosed individual with
worry-creases furrowing his thin face.
"Hello, son. Got your bubble-ship yet?" He held forth the inflatable
vehicle and smiled—a forced, slick smile that faded when the vendor
noticed the luminescent armband that told of Larry's status. "Oh—a
Changer," the vendor said. "I guess you wouldn't be interested in a
bubble-ship, then."
"I guess not." Larry took the toy from the vendor's hand anyway, and
examined it. "You make these yourself?"
"Oh, no, not at all. I get them from the Distributory." The vendor
scowled and shook his head. "They keep cutting down my allotment
all the time. I don't know how I'll stay in business."
"Why? Won't there always be a market?"
"There must be something new out," the vendor said gloomily. "The
young ones just aren't interested in bubble-toys these days. Things
were good last year, but—" he frowned dismally—"they're getting
worse all the time."
"Sorry to hear that," Larry sympathized. He felt vaguely disturbed—
the bubble-toys were vastly popular among his friends, and it was
upsetting to learn that the vendor was doing so badly. "I wish I could
do something for you."
"Don't worry about me, son. You've got your own problems now." The
vendor smiled bleakly at him and turned off the pedestrian-walk into
the side-road that led to the Playground, leaving Larry alone.
Those were strange words, he thought. He revolved them in his mind,
getting used to their feel. You've got your own problems. He looked
around, at the neat, clean suburb with its attractive little ten-story
units and carefully-spaced splotches of green garden, and shook his
head. Problems. To be or not to be. It was a line from an old play he
had found taped in his father's library.
The play had made no sense to him at the time, but now it troubled
him. He made a mental note to ask his father about it, some time in
the next two days, and walked on. He wanted to see as much as he
could of the adult world, before it was time to decide which he
preferred.
The City was a maze of connected buildings, redoubled avenues,
tangled byways and confusing signs. Larry stood in the heart of the
business district, watching the grownups zoom past him, each
walking alone, face set determinedly as he pursued some private
mission.
"Move along, boy," someone said roughly. Larry glanced around, saw
a man in uniform scowling at him. The scowl softened into something
like pity as the man noticed the badge of Larry's status. Hastily, Larry
walked on, moving deeper into the web of the City.
He had never been here before. The City was someplace where
fathers went during the day, during the pleasant hours of school and
Playground, and from which fathers came, grimy and irritable, in the
evening. Larry had never considered going to the City before. Now it
was necessary.
He had no particular destination in mind. But after seventeen years in
the unworrying world, he would simply have to investigate the world
of anxiety before making up his mind.
A car buzzed by suddenly, and he leaped to one side. Out here in the
City, cars ran right next to the pedestrian-walks, not on flying skyways
above them. Larry hugged the side of a building for a moment,
recovering his calm.
Calm. Stay calm. Make a cool, objective appraisal.
But how?
Nine out of ten people picked this world. Larry ran his fingers over the
rough brick of the building, and felt the tension beginning to curdle his
stomach. Nine out of ten. Am I the tenth? Am I going to decide to go
back to a lifetime of unworry?
It seemed so. This dirty, hypertense, overcrowded place seemed
boundlessly undesirable. The choice was obvious.
But still....
He shook his head. After a moment of complete unthought, he let go
of the side of the building and took a few hesitant steps forward. He
was really frightened now. Suddenly, he wanted to be home, wanted
to know again the smooth placidity of an unworried day.
He started to walk faster, then to run. After half a block, he stopped,
suddenly.
Where am I running?
He didn't know. He felt trapped, hemmed in, overwhelmed by despair.
So this is the City? Sorry, I don't care for it.
"You're all alone, aren't you?" said a sudden voice from behind him.
"It's not wise, on your first day off the drug."
Larry turned. The man behind him was tall and narrow-shouldered,
with the pinched, baggy face of a grownup and a wide, sly smile.
"Yes, I'm all alone," he said.
"I thought so. I can tell a Changer when I see one, even without the
armband."
Larry glanced down at his arm quickly and saw that the identifying
armband was gone. Somehow, somewhere, he must have ripped it
off. He looked at the stranger, and in a hoarse voice asked, "What do
you want?"
"A companion for a drink," the stranger said affably. "Care to join
me?"
"No—I—all right," Larry said with a firmness that surprised himself.
"Let's go have a drink."
The alcohol stung his mouth, and the flavoring in the drink tasted
rancid, but he put the whole thing down and looked across the table
at the stranger.
"I don't much like that drink," he said.
"Not surprising." The other grinned. "It's one of our favorites."
"Our?"
"City people, I mean. Ulcer people. We gobble the stuff up. Not
surprising you don't like it."
Larry touched his forefingers lightly together. "I don't think I'd ever like
it, no matter how long I tried to get used to it."
"Oh?" The stranger's left eyebrow rose slightly. "Never?"
Larry shook his head. "Or the rest of the City, for that matter." He
sighed. "I don't think I'm the City type. I think I'm going to give the
whole thing up and go back home. The City isn't for me."
"Have another drink," the stranger said. "Go on—I'll pay. It'll take your
mind off your problems."
"There's a capsule that'll do it a lot more efficiently," Larry said. "I
don't need bad-tasting drinks to ease my mind."
"You're definitely cashing in your chips, then?"
"What?"
"I mean, you're definitely choosing Koletsky for life, eh?"
Larry paused a while, letting the images of the City filter through his
mind again. Finally he nodded. "I think so. I really do."
"Two full days more—and you've made up your mind?" The stranger
shook his head. "That'll never do, son. You'll have to think more
deeply."
"How deep do I have to think?"
"Tell me what anxiety is," the stranger countered.
Taken aback by the sudden and seemingly irrelevant question, Larry
blinked. "Anxiety? Why—worry, isn't it? Fear? Ulcers and
headaches?"
The stranger shook his head slowly and dialed another drink. "Anxiety
is the feeling that things are too good, that you're riding for a fall," he
said carefully. "It's a sense of things about to get worse."
Larry remembered the bubble-vendor and nodded. "But they have to
be pretty good to start with, don't they?"
"Right. You've got to have something pretty good—and be worried
that you're going to lose it. Then you fight to keep it. Challenge—
response. That's anxiety. Fear's something different. Then you creep
into the corner and shake. Or you hang onto the side of a wall."
"I think I'll take another drink," Larry said thoughtfully.
"You get what I mean? Anxiety pushes and prods you, but it doesn't
make you shrivel. You've got to be strong to stand up under it. That's
how our world works."
"So?"
"You haven't experienced any real anxiety yet, boy. Just fear—and
you're reacting out of fear. You can't judge your response to
something if you're really responding to something else."
Larry frowned and gulped his drink. It tasted a little better, this time,
though only imperceptibly so. "You mean I'm deciding too quickly,
then? That I ought to look around the City a little longer?"
"Yes and no," the stranger said. "You're deciding much too quickly—
yes. But looking around the City won't do. No; go back home."
"Home?"
"Home. Go back to your Playground. Look there. Then decide."
Larry nodded slowly. "Sure," he said. "Sure—that's it." He felt the
tension drain out of him. "I think I'll have one more drink before I go."
The Playground was crowded on the second day of Larry's three-day

period. Small children played happily near the shimmering wading
pond, older ones gathered for games in the playing-field farther on,
and, far in the distance, a group of permanent unworriers sat
complacently in the sun, neither thinking nor moving. Humming
robonurses threaded here and there through the Playground, seeing
to it that no one got into any trouble. They were necessary, of course
—because the unworried children would have no fear of leaping from
a tree head-first or walking into the path of a speeding baseball.
Larry stood at the edge of the Playground, leaning against the
confining fence, watching. His friends were there—the boys he had
played with only two days before, still happily occupied with their
games and their bubble-toys. Walking carefully, in order not to be
seen, he skirted the side of the playing area and headed for the green
fields where the Permanents were.
There were about a hundred of them, of all ages. Larry recognized a
former playmate of his—a boy of about nineteen, now—and there
were older men, too, some well along in middle age. They sat quietly,
unmoving, most of them, smiling pleasantly.
Larry entered the field and walked to the nearest bench.
"Mind if I join you?"
The man on the bench grinned. "Not at all. Sit right down, friend."
Larry sat. "You're a Permanent, aren't you?" he asked suddenly.
A shadow seemed to cross the man's face. "Yes," he said slowly.
"Yes, I'm a Permanent. Who are you?"
"I'm Changing," Larry said.
"Oh."
The Permanent studied him idly for a moment or two, then leaned
back and closed his eyes. "It's nice here," he said. "The sun's warm."
Larry frowned. "What do you do when it rains?"
"We go indoors," the Permanent said.
"Look! I think it's starting to rain now!" Larry pointed at the bright,
cloudless sky. "There'll be a terrible thunderstorm any minute!"
"The robonurses should be here, then."
"Yes!" Larry said. "Where are they? Why aren't they here?"
"They'll be here," the Permanent said blandly.
"I don't think so. I don't think they're coming. They're going to let you
get wet."
The Permanent shrugged. "They wouldn't do that," he said.
"Of course not," a new voice said.
Larry glanced up, startled. The copper-alloy face of a robonurse
looked down at him. He goggled confusedly.
The robonurse's grips seized his shoulders gently. "You'll have to
leave here, boy. We can't have you disturbing these people."
Larry stood up. "All right," he said. "I'll go." He had seen all he needed
to see.
The stranger in the City had been right, Larry thought, as he made his
way back to his home. The place to look had been in the Playground.
He had seen something even more frightening than the City.
His father was waiting for him as he entered.
"Well?"
Larry sat down heavily in a pneumochair and knit his hands together.
"I've seen the Playground," he said. "Yesterday the City, today the
Playground. What's left to see?"
"You've seen it all, son."
Larry studied his father's pale, harried face for a moment. "I thought
the City was pretty horrible. I decided yesterday I'd become a
Permanent."
"I know. Your Watcher told me."
"Watcher?"
"You know—the man who took you in for drinks. You don't think I'd let
you go into the City alone, do you?"
Larry smiled. "I thought it was too neat, the way he met me and sent
me back. But—but—"
He looked up helplessly at his father. "Today I saw the Playground,
Dad. And I don't know what to do." His voice trailed off indistinctly.
"What's the trouble, son?"
"Tomorrow I have to make my choice. Well, the Playground seems to
be out—they turn into vegetables there—but am I ready for the City?"
"I don't understand, Larry."
"I was sickened by the place." He leaned forward and said, "Dad, why
are children raised on the unworry drug?"
"We try to spare you," his father said. "Seventeen years of tranquility
—it's good, isn't it?"
"Not when it ends. It's the worst possible preparation for a life in your
world, Dad. I'm not ready for it—and I never will be! My childhood
hasn't taught me how to worry!"
Suddenly, his father began to chuckle, first deep in his stomach, then
high up in his throat, a ratchety, rasping laugh.
"What's the matter?" Larry asked angrily. "What's so funny?"
"You say you don't know how to worry? Why, you're practically an
expert at it!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Suppose you tell me what you've been thinking of, the past two
days. Everything."
Larry stood up, walked to the door. The robonurse was waiting in the
next room, patient, unmoving. After a moment, he turned to his father.
"Well—I've been thinking that I don't like the City. That I'm afraid I
wasn't properly prepared for it. That I think raising me on the unworry
drug robbed me of any chance I'd have to learn to stand the strains of
City life. That even so I don't like the Playground either, and I'm
caught between." He checked each item off on his fingers. "That—"
"That's enough, Larry. You've analyzed it nicely."
Slowly, the truth opened out before him and an embarrassed grin
widened on his face. Resistance to strain could be acquired overnight
—by nine out of ten. Nine out of ten didn't need a long, grueling
childhood to prepare them for adulthood; the tenth would never grow
up anyway.
"I've been worrying," he said. "I'm the worrying kind. I've been
worrying since yesterday, and I didn't even know it!"
His father nodded. Larry took the capsule-box from its shelf, opened
it, stared at the three different kinds of capsule inside. "There never
really was any choice after all, was there?"
"No. Your choice was made yesterday morning. If you didn't have the
stuff for City life, you'd have grabbed for the unworry capsule the
second you saw it. But you didn't. You stopped to make a decision—
and won your citizenship right then and there. You proved it to us—
and by fighting with yourself over the decision you thought you still
had to make, you proved it to yourself."
Larry's smile spread. "Sure. The ability to worry is the measure of
successful City life," he said. "And I'm a regular worry wart already."
The excitement of the past two days still thumped in his stomach—
and it was only the beginning. "I belong here. Why—it won't be long
before I'll get my first ulcer!"
His father was radiant with paternal pride. "Welcome to your heritage,
son—the heritage of the civilized man. You've got the makings of a
first-rate citizen!"
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AGE OF
ANXIETY ***
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Geometric Inequalities Methods of Proving Problem Books in Mathematics Full Chapter

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Geometric Inequalities Methods of

Proving (Problem Books in

1 Theorem on the Length of the Broken Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

4 Application of Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

8.2 Using Geometric Inequalities for Proving

Basic Notations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 1

1.1 Triangle Inequality

1.1.1. Consider a triangle ABC. Prove that

where R is the circumradius of triangle ABC.

Prove that AFþFBþBDþDCþCEþEA  ADþBEþCF.

1.1.22. Let M, N be distinct points on side BC of triangle ABC, such that

1.1.2. Note that AC AB BC AC. Hence, |AB BC| AC.

Then, for n  4, we have that

2B1 B2 þ 2B2 B3 þ ::: þ 2Bn B1 ¼ A1 A3 þ A2 A4 þ A3 A5 þ ::: þ An A2 ¼

(according to the remark in problem 1.1.4a). Hence, it follows that B1 B2 þ B2 B3

1.1.5. If it would be possible to cut off more than n2 circumscribed quadrilaterals,

(see the proof of problem 1.1.6а), then AC þ CD AB BD ¼ (k 1)

Hence, it follows that ma > 2 .

Note that 23 ma þ 23 mc > b. In a similar way, we obtain that 23 ma þ 23 mb > c and

minðAM; BM; CMÞ þ AM þ BM þ CM 2AM þ BM þ CM

We obtain that min(AM, BM, CM) þ AM þ BM þ CM < mb þ ma þ mc.

Let AB AC BC. Since triangles C2MC1, MB1B2, MA1A2 are similar to

MA þ MB þ MC < ðAB1 þ B1 MÞ þ ðMA2 þ A2 BÞ þ ðMA1 þ A1 CÞ

Hence, it follows that MA þ MB þ MC < AC þ BC.

the segment EF, that is AD||BC.

MA2 þ MB2 þ MC2 ¼ zða xÞ þ y2 þ xða yÞ þ z2 þ yða zÞ þ x2 ¼

1.1.12. (a) If point E coincides with points A and C, then

From problem 1.1.12а, it follows that AC BE < AE BC þ AB EC. From the

(d) If points B, C, D are on one line, then sin ∠ BDC ¼ 0; therefore AB þ BC þ

AB OC þ AC OB þ BC OD  BCðAO þ ODÞ: ð1:3Þ

We have that AO þ OD  AD and OC ¼ OB ¼ OD. Thus from (1.3) we obtain

(e) According to problem 1.1.14d, we obtain that EDþDFþFE

According to problem 1.1.14g, we have that

AD BC DA0 þ BD DC BC  AB AC BC: ð1:4Þ

According to problem 1.1.14a, we have that

BD CA0 þ CD BA0  BC DA0 :

Thus, we deduce that

BD AD AB þ CD AD AC  BC DA0 AD: ð1:5Þ

Summing up inequalities (1.4) and (1.5), we obtain that

AB1 A1 C1 < AA1 B1 C1 þ A1 B1 AC1 ¼ AA1 AD þ AB AC1

(see the proof of problem 1.1.14а).

AB1 AC < AA1 AD þ AB AC1 : ð1:6Þ

In a similar way, for points A, D, D1, C1 and A, B, C, C1 we have that

AD1 AB1 < AD AB þ AC1 AA1 , ð1:7Þ

AC AD1 < AB AA1 þ AC1 AD: ð1:8Þ

Let O, O1 be the intersection points of the diagonals of parallelograms ABCD

In a similar way, we obtain that

as BD ¼ B1D1, A1D ¼ B1C, A1B ¼ D1C.

AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 ¼ AB2 þ AD2 þ AA1 2 þ AC1 2 ;

AB1 2 þ AD1 2 þ AC2 þ 2AB1 AC þ 2AD1 AB1 þ 2AC AD1 <

or (AB1 þ AC þ AD1)2 < (AA1 þ AB þ AD þ AC1)2. Therefore,

AB1 þ AC þ AD1 < AA1 þ AB þ AD þ AC1 :

(j) Note that

It is sufficient to prove that

ðAB þ BCÞ2 ðSA þ SCÞ > SA AB AC þ SC BC AC þ SB ACðAB þ BCÞ

ðAB þ BC ACÞðAB SA þ BC SCÞþ

This holds true, as AB SC þ BC SA SB AC  0 (see problem 1.1.14а) and

See also problem 7.1.107d.

Title: Age of anxiety

Author: Robert Silverberg

Illustrator: John Schoenherr

Prove that AFþFBþBDþDCþCEþEA ADþBEþCF.

Then, for n 4, we have that

AB OC þ AC OB þ BC OD BCðAO þ ODÞ: ð1:3Þ

We have that AO þ OD AD and OC ¼ OB ¼ OD. Thus from (1.3) we obtain

AD BC DA0 þ BD DC BC AB AC BC: ð1:4Þ

BD CA0 þ CD BA0 BC DA0 :

BD AD AB þ CD AD AC BC DA0 AD: ð1:5Þ

This holds true, as AB SC þ BC SA SB AC 0 (see problem 1.1.14а) and